1975-2025: Edmonds Arts Commission celebrates 50 years | |
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2025 marks fifty years since the establishment of the City of Edmonds Arts Commission. The work of the Arts Commission and Cultural Arts staff over five decades has established a highly regarded municipal arts program for Edmonds, recognized by many Western WA cities and communities.
Since its inception, the EAC has worked diligently to encourage the growth of all arts disciplines within the city, including programs such as
- Performing arts (Summer Concerts in the Parks, Music at the Library and the Winter Concert Series).
- Literary arts (Write on the Sound, Poet’s Perspective and Best Book I Ever Read Poster Contest )
- Visual arts (Percent for Public Art, rotating exhibits, On the Fence and Edmonds Photo Contests).
In addition to helping develop specific programs that form the core of Cultural Services, the EAC fosters partnerships, networking and planning initiatives that support the creative economy in Edmonds.
Examples of these efforts include advocating for and participation in creation of the Community Cultural Plan, the development of the Edmonds Center for the Arts; the Fourth Avenue Cultural Corridor; partnership with the Arts Festival Foundation to grow and maintain the public art collection; and a leadership in establishing the Creative District.
Looking ahead, the EAC continues its work in the arts community, maintaining its mission to ensure the arts are integral to the City of Edmonds quality of life, economic vitality, and central identity. For complete information about Cultural Arts & EAC programs, go to edmondsartscommission.org.
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What the City's temporary suspension of City board and commission meetings means for the EAC | |
On December 17, 2024, the Edmonds City Council approved an ordinance suspending non-State-mandated City boards and commissions until January 2027. The purpose of the temporary suspension is:
- To reduce direct costs from the City’s General Fund to boards and commissions in the 2025/26 biennium budget.
- To reduce staff time supporting boards and commissions in the context of staff layoffs and hiring freeze for the 2025/26 biennium budget cycle.
Arts & Culture Manager Frances Chapin is retiring in February. As a cost savings, her position will not be filled during the 2025/26 biennium budget cycle. The core programs in Cultural Services and other arts related tasks within the Community, Culture & Economic Development Department will be facilitated by the Arts Program Specialist, Laurie Rose.
Regular Meetings will not be scheduled for the Arts Commission, however, the ordinance authorizes the Mayor to permit suspended boards and commissions to hold periodic “Special Meetings” if requested by staff. For the EAC, this will be when action is required for a project or program, e.g. to approve the Tourism Promotion Award recommendations per Council Resolution 630.
In the meantime, commissioners will continue to work in committees to provide the volunteer hours they contribute to planning and implementation of Cultural Services programs such as Write on the Sound. The commitment of the commissioners and their significant volunteer hours make it possible for Cultural Services to continue providing accessible programs in arts for the whole community.
For complete information about the City of Edmonds 2025/2026 biennium budget, go to https://www.edmondswa.gov/government/city_budget
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The Edmonds Library & EAC welcome back
the Wintergrass Festival Preview | |
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About the Preview, Feb. 2 in Edmonds
After a five-year hiatus, the EAC and Edmonds Library are excited to bring back the free-admission Wintergrass Festival Preview. Join us on Sun., Feb. 2nd, 2:30-4:00, in the Plaza Room (above the Library) to listen to bluegrass, old time, folk and roots music with the Mosquito Fleet band. Following the performance, a jam session on acoustic instruments is open to all who want to participate. Attendees of all ages are also invited to explore the Wintergrass Instrument “Petting Zoo” to experience holding and playing an acoustic musical instrument.
About the Festival
The Wintergrass Festival, at the end of February in Bellevue, is an indoor, four-day, family-friendly bluegrass, Americana, roots, and acoustic music festival. The festival features concerts and dances on four different stages, music education programs for kids and adults, workshops, impromptu jams, and a chance to reconnect with and make new friends. For more information about the festival and tickets, go to wintergrass.com
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Creative District's Gateway Art Project artist selected | Edmonds Creative District received a grant to create an art installation as a placemaking element in Anway Park, located next to the ferry holding lanes at Sunset and James Streets. The funding for the grant is matched by a donation from the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation. The artwork will provide a welcoming focal point for visitors and locals alike. | | |
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The artist selected for the project is Sean Orlando of Engineered Artworks in Richmond, CA. Sean was selected through a competitive process, reviewed by a selection panel which included members representing the Edmonds City Council, Edmonds Arts Commission, Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation, and Edmonds Creative District, plus a professional public artist who is a resident of Edmonds (see process diagram).
Sean Orlando has extensive experience in creating sculptures for public and community settings, including installations in Tacoma, Seattle and Kirkland. The intent of his concept, “Gateway Canopy” is to create an organically inspired and visually engaging form with functional uses that “exemplifies the experimental and design-centered values of the Edmonds Creative District”.
The project is scheduled for installation later this year.
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Mayor Rosen stopped by the EAC's December meeting to thank Tanya Sharp for her years of service on the arts commission. | |
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Tanya Sharp--after eight eventful years with the EAC that included the growth of several programs as well as navigation through the pandemic years--completed her two-term tenure as an arts commissioner last month. She served as EAC Chair for two years and sat on several committees, including Visual Arts and Tourism Promotion Grants, as well as being the EAC representative on the Edmonds Creative District Advisory Committee, public art selection panels, and the annual Art & Heritage Day in Olympia.
A graphic, web, and UX designer by trade, Tanya's time is also busy as an arts program advocate and volunteer. She completed the Seattle University MFA program in Arts Leadership, served on the board of the Edmonds Center for the Arts and has volunteered for many arts and youth programs and activities in Edmonds. She is most interested in the visual arts, with a particular passion for arts education for youth. To that end, she established Spark! Creativity, a non-profit that serves students of south Snohomish County as a bridge to ensure arts education is made accessible and available to youth as a catalyst for their personal and professional growth.
As Tanya's involvement in the Edmonds arts community continues in the years ahead, the EAC looks forward to seeing her future endeavors unfold.
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Edmonds Arts Organizations
& Businesses | |
Alley Bell Music alleybellmusic.com
Art for All artforallforum.org
ArtistsConnect artists-connect.com
ARTspot Art Supplies artspotedmonds.com
Art Walk Edmonds artwalkedmonds.com
ArtWorks artworks-edmonds.org
Ballyhoo Theatre ballyhootheatre.org
Barclay Shelton Dance barclaysheltondance.com
Bench & Board Gallery benchandboard.com
Cascade Symphony cascadesymphony.org
Cascadia Art Museum cascadiaartmuseum.org
Cole Gallery colegallery.net
Cole Art Studio coleartstudio.com
ConBellaVoce conbellavoce@gmail.com
Christopher Framing/Gallery christopherframing.com
Create Next Steps createnextsteps.com
Crow edmondscrow.com
DeMiero Jazz Fest demierojazzfest.org
Driftwood Modern driftwoodmodern.com
Edmonds Arts Festival edmondsartsfestival.com
Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation
edmondsartsfestival.com/foundation
Edmonds Art Studio Tour edmondsartstudiotour.com Edmonds Bookshop edmondsbookshop.indielite.org
Edmonds Center for the Arts ec4arts.org
Edmonds Driftwood Players edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org
Edmonds Frame Design edmondsframe.com
Edmonds Historical Museum historicedmonds.org
Edmonds in Bloom edmondsinbloom.com
Edmonds Jazz Connection jazzconnection.org
Edmonds Phoenix Theatre tptedmonds.org
Gallery North gallerynorthedmonds.com
Glazed & Amazed glazedandamazed.com
Graphite Art Center/ArtStart NW graphite-edmonds.org
Joan Archer Aria Gallery joanarchergallery.com
Maje Gallery majegallery.com
Musicology Co. musicologyco.com
Olympic Ballet olympicballet.org
PorchFest Edmonds porchfestedmonds.com
Sculptors Workshop
facebook.com/sculptorsworkshopofedmonds
Sno-King Chorale sno-kingchorale.org
Steel Magic Northwest steelmagicnorthwest.org
Sunlight Gallery+Studio sunlightgallerystudio.com
The Edmonds Theater theedmondstheater.net
Write on the Sound writeonthesound.com
Young Lee Gallery & Studio youngasianartgallery.com
| Email eac@edmondswa.gov with a request to have an Edmonds-based arts or creative economy organization or business added to this list | | |
Free Admission Winter Events | |
Jan 12, 7:00pm: Driftwood Players presents First Draft staged reading presentation of "BUGGED" written by Miriam Tobin and directed by Aidyn Steven. Free admission. Reservation required. EdmondsDriftwoodPlayers.org/new-works
Jan 15 - Feb 1: Edmonds Lunar New Year Celebration. Free community event and performances, Jan 15 - Feb 1. The celebration culminates on Sat. Feb. 1st, 11:00am, Edmonds Center for the Arts (reservations required) plus Lunar New Year Market, 10am - 3pm, Civic Playfield Park. Presented by the Multicultural Assoc. of Edmonds. lunarnewyearedmonds.com.
Jan 18: Kidstock! at Edmonds Ctr for the Arts is a free, full-day arts celebration is designed for families with children of all ages featuring a variety of live music performances, arts education workshops, and activities for kids. Registration requested: https://www.edmondscenterforthearts.org/events/kidstock-2025/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHhU_xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHd031crdK3YWjuf-VLqzaRuKV6aJ0B9pP2RhOJDQi0Dge-KGy7xXO8dbJg_aem_n_gRgPYHv7SdsrRLAeaL3Q
Feb 2: 2:00-4:30: Wintergrass Festival Preview (see article above), Edmonds Plaza Room, 650 Main St.
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Ongoing Free Admission Events & Gatherings
Art for All Community Collaborations / 1st Wednesdays, 12:30 - 3:30pm: Art class at Graphite Art Center for adults 18+ with disabilities. Registration required. Go to artforallforum.org/classes
Art Walk Edmonds / 3rd Thursdays, 5:00-8:00pm: A rotating exhibit of visual artwork and live music in select downtown stores, galleries, Cascadia Art Museum, restaurants and office lobbies. Free admission 5-8pm by participating venues. For complete information, go to: artwalkedmonds.com
Artists Connect / 4th Saturdays, 10:00am-12:00pm: For local artists to have a place to meet and connect. Information: artists-connect.com
ArtSPOT's No Talent Art Club / Fridays, 6:00-8:00pm: Bad at art? Who cares! Join other "un-talented" folks. Pencils and paper available or bring your own materials to use or share. For complete information, go to artspotedmonds.com/ntac
Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds Library and Edmonds Waterfront Center / various dates & times: These three organizations/businesses offer a monthly rotating schedule of free events, presentations and gatherings. Schedules are posted on their websites and listed on their social media pages.
Edmonds Historical Museum / Thursday - Saturday, 1:00-4:00pm: Permanent and rotating exhibits. Go to: historicedmonds.org
Musicology Co. Saturday Sessions at 6:00pm on select dates featuring a variety of musicians from around the Puget Sound region. For a schedule, go to
musicologyco.com
Winter Market / Saturdays, 10:00am-3:00pm: Runs on the 4th Saturday, January through . Go to: facebook.com/cityofedmondsmarkets
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Open Call: The Gallery at Graphite in downtown Edmonds seeks proposals for high quality art exhibits. Curators and established art groups are encouraged to apply with a proposal. The call for proposals is open through the year.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qZpYvaILw8jWAK24hcAxfSu-7xEGkYFt/edit
Deadline Jan 24: Edmonds Art Festival Artist Booth applications. Go to https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=12945
Deadline Feb 9: Gallery North Small Works Juried Show for 2-D drawing and painting. Go to gallerynorthedmonds.com
Deadline Mar 2: Driftwood Player's 14th annual Festival of Shorts Call for Playwrights. Go to https://edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org/festival-of-shorts/
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Deadline Feb. 15: James Welch Prize annual award for two outstanding poems written by Indigenous poets no-fee contest submissions. Two first-place finalists will be published in Poetry Northwest, each winning a $1,000 prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to read with the judge. See PoetryNW.org/James-Welch-Prize
Deadline March 1: Write on the Sound writers' conference call for session proposals for the 2025 conference. The conference celebrates its 40th year in 2025. Go to: writeonthesound.com
Deadline March 2: See under Performance for Driftwood Player's Call for Playwrights
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Deadline Mar 2: Driftwood Player's 14th annual Festival of Shorts Call for Playwrights. Go to https://edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org/festival-of-shorts/
Theatre Puget Sound lists performance-related jobs and audition listings, as well as other information about the theater community in Puget Sound.
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Deadline Jan 13: The Neddy Artist Award for visual artists in the State of Washington provides two annual gifts of $25,000, and six awards of $2,000, to artists living and working in the Puget Sound region. Go to: https://www.cornish.edu/neddy-artist-award/
Deadline Jan 27: Artists or artist groups are invited to submit proposals for an art installation on the Twisp WA Civic Building and samples of previous work; budget for all aspects of the project including design, fabrication, and installation is $30,300, plus lodging will be provided for artist/s if needed. Go to: https://artisttrust.org/opportunities/civic-building-request-for-proposals-calls-submissions/
Deadline Feb. 1: The Phinney Neighborhood Association invites artists to apply for the Reimagining PhinneyWood Signal Boxes project, a unique opportunity to transform ordinary infrastructure into extraordinary public art. Go to: https://www.phinneycenter.org/reimagining-phinneywood-signal-boxes/
Deadline March 17: The City of Auburn invites sculptors to submit applications for Auburn’s Downtown Sculpture Gallery. The works selected for this public art exhibition will be on loan to the City for a period of twelve months (12) and can be available for sale during that time. Go to: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=14572
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ArtDeadine.Com and the Access Arts® Network is dedicated to the world wide distribution of information for artists and contemporary art institutions.
Artist Trust, a Seattle-based nonprofit, posts opportunities from around the globe in all genres: Literary, Media, Film, Video, Photography, Visual and Performance.
CaFÉ, a program of Creative West (formerly WESTAF), strives to make art opportunities available to all by offering arts organizations an affordable submission platform and artists an easy way to apply.
EntryThingy for Artists: browse a list of all current calls, manage your artwork, share galleries and a website, edit your profile and review your entries in all calls.
SeattleArtists.com Call for Art online forum lists visual art opportunities from around the Puget Sound region.
Seattle Professional Instrumentalists Auditions & Job Network Facebook Group
Seattle Office of Arts & Culture Opportunities page lists various artist opportunities.
Snohomish County Arts Commission Opportunities page lists opportunities around Snohomish County.
Submittable is a Call to Artists and Grant application platform used by many arts organizations and government agencies, including ArtsWA, City of Seattle and Edmonds Arts Commission.
Theatre Puget Sound lists performance-related jobs and audition listing, as well as other information about the theater community in Puget Sound.
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Edmonds City Hall
121 5th Ave N | Edmonds WA 98020
425-771-0228
eac@edmondswa.gov
edmondsartscommission.org
2025 Commissioners
Richard Chung, Chair
Katie Leute, Vice Chair
Harry Kirchner, WOTS Chair
Beth Henkes
Megan Joplin
Alex Leggett
Robby London
Sarah Paust, Student Representative
| Edmonds Cultural Services is a division of the City of Edmonds Community, Culture and Economic Development Department. Todd Tatum, Director. | |
Cultural Services Staff
Frances Chapin
Arts & Culture Manager
Laurie Rose
Arts Program Specialist
Write on the Sound Conference Coordinator
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The City of Edmonds Arts Commission (EAC) ensures the arts are integral to our community's quality of life, economic vitality, and central identity.
In 2025 and 2026, per ordinance, the EAC may hold periodic "Special Meetings". Notice of a Special Meeting will be posted on the City's website and on the EAC web site: edmondsartscommission.org
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The EAC Arts Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter featuring the programs and activities of the EAC. The newsletter includes a listing of regional artist opportunities and highlights the Edmonds arts community. The Arts Bulletin is published in January, March, June, and September, with a special holiday edition in November.
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Follow the EAC on Social Media |
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