The Cascadia Art Museum’s online gala auction was a big success. Photo courtesy of Cascadia Art Museum
The Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation Community Arts Grants program recently awarded $500 to Cascadia Art Museum’s new “Cascadia Art for Schools (CAS)” program. The curriculum will provide informal integrated arts education for students in Edmonds and nearby school districts. CAS includes two Washington state standards-based school programs: Sharing Our Story and the Building Blocks of Art. The Sharing Our Story program addresses the history of Washington state and tribal sovereignty by exploring how society and historical movements influenced Northwest artists, while the Building Blocks of Art program explores art concepts utilized by Northwest artists as tools of expression.
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the curriculum will be prepared for online delivery and interaction. Art lessons will be developed by Mona Fairbanks, a professional arts educator who lives in Edmonds, and all art lessons will be taught through online venues featuring existing Cascadia exhibits and art relating to the Pacific Northwest.
In 2019, the Foundation made $24,000 in Community Arts Grants to 10 organizations, including the DeMiero Jazz Festival, which was attended by more than 1,200 students from around the Pacific Northwest. Other grants went to the Olympic Ballet to assist with summer production costs, Edmonds Senior Center, the City of Edmonds Bird Fest, and the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
Applicants for Community Arts Grants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a specific art project or program that will benefit members of the community. When considering projects, the committee considers the number of people served, diversity, and uniqueness.
The Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation also supported the annual Cascadia Art Museum Gala through a $1,500 sponsorship. The Gala included silent and live online auctions featuring historic Northwest art. The event was very successful, which shows how important art is to our community.
For more information about the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation Community Arts Grant program, visit this page on our website or email Susan Loreen at susan.loreen@gmail.com.