Anacortes Arts Festival Designated Creative District by State of WA
Where Art, Innovation, the Creative Economy and Community Converge.
The Anacortes Creative District is a place where artists and creatives can live, work, play, and share their craft. In the heart of Downtown Anacortes, you will find artists, public art, musicians, dancers, designers, craftspeople, artisan food, museums, boat builders, art studios, festivals, and more. All things that make our community a unique, creative, and vibrant place to be. Come join us and experience the magic for yourself. Learn more about the Anacortes Creative District.
The Washington Arts Commission (ArtsWA) has announced a Certified Creative District in Anacortes. The Anacortes Creative District is located in the heart of Fidalgo Island nestled between the San Juan Islands, Seattle, WA, and Vancouver, BC.
As a part of a Washington State Designation program, Anacortes joins communities all over the state in celebrating creativity. The Creative District program provides a platform to expand its arts and creative economies, attract entrepreneuers, educational and cultural opportunities, and ongoing economic growth. With this designation, ArtsWA has developed a comprehensive program that offers grant funding options, technical assistance and training for communities and artist entrepreneurs, wayfinding signage, and more to help communities thrive. The Anacortes Creative District will be administered by the Anacortes Arts Festival.
The Anacortes Creative District is a defined area where art, cultural, social, and economic activity flourishes. Cultural spaces, artists, creative sectors, and other local businesses that support these activities are all included. This special designation promotes Anacortes (and all of Fidalgo Island) as a vibrant and thriving arts community as it inspires neighbors, other Washingtonians, and visitors from all over the world to visit this incredible destination.
Anacortes is bursting with amazing collaborations, which creates unlimited opportunities for its community and visitors to this beautiful seaside city. Nonprofits such as Anacortes Arts Festival, Fidalgo DanceWorks, Anacortes Community Theatre, Anacortes Music Project, and Manieri Foundation are among the Creative Collaborators. In partnership with the City of Anacortes and together with the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, the Port of Anacortes, the Anacortes School District, the Downtown Anacortes Alliance, Skagit Tourism, and Skagit County Economic Development, the avenues for support are boundless.
It is the dedication of these collaborators and community members supporting the mission of the Anacortes Creative District as a place that honors its rich art history and builds on that history by growing the opportunities for creative people and businesses to live and work in Anacortes.