The Future of the Arts is Now
Art is a catalyst—it encourages thought, sparks conversation, and allows us to explore our common humanity. For nearly three decades, the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) has witnessed the daily impact the arts can have. From the look of pure joy on a child’s face as they sit, enraptured by a theatre performance, to the collective energy that surges through the audience as they are transfixed by world-class Django music, we have seen what the arts can do. We all experience it differently, interpreting art through the lens of our life events, beliefs, and worldviews. But at its core, art encourages us to think. It helps us feel. And it makes us see that beauty can take the form of a song, a painting, or a lecture that brings into focus our innate and shared humanity.
As we all take in the changes of the past few months, it is important to note that WICA remains a beacon for the arts—a hub for the island, region, and for our patrons around the world. Throughout our history, we’ve withstood economic difficulties and a global health pandemic and we remain an integral part of the social fabric of our Whidbey community. Each year, we rely heavily on the generosity of our supporters and on the local, state, and national grant funds that directly finance components of our programming. As with any nonprofit, our funding sources vary annually, with each year presenting new challenges and opportunities for innovation. But we’re a nonprofit, and that’s what we do.
Earlier this month, along with arts organizations across the United States, we witnessed the reversal of decades of bipartisan support for the arts with the mass defunding of arts and cultural organizations and initiatives throughout the country. We are emotionally devastated by this effort to undermine the work of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Simply put, the arts matter. Here on Whidbey, where more than 250 nonprofits call the island home, we are not alone in our experience nor are we immune to the effects of this policy shift. We will feel this here, there’s no denying that. We may be separated from the mainland physically, but our work is intrinsically connected to the national and global arts movements. Last September we brought acclaimed Kennedy Center vocalist, songwriter, composer, and music educator Martha Redbone to our stage and just a few months ago we welcomed Portland Taiko to WICA. Both of these events included a youth education component as part of our Arts in Education initiative—an initiative that is vital to enriching the lives of future generations of leaders and introducing island youth to the beauty of the arts. And both of these events, through ArtsWA and TourWest, were funded in part by NEA support. It is opportunities like these, and many others, that are at stake when we devalue the arts.
So, what can you do? As your community arts organization, we are here for you. We are dedicated to ensuring that the programming you love, from our award-winning Theatre Series to DjangoFest NW, remains an enriching and impactful part of our lives here on Whidbey. Now, more than ever, the arts need you.
CONTACT your local, state, and national representatives; DONATE to arts and cultural organizations that are directly impacted by funding cuts; and SUPPORT the work we do, from volunteering with us to attending a show.
The future of the arts is now.