Art, community, and connection have been at the heart of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) mission since 1996, when a grassroots movement established the nonprofit in Langley, Washington. Support for this mission was on full display on October 23 when WICA received the Theatre Puget Sound People's Choice Award for North Puget Sound.
“We are honored to receive this award,” says Deana Duncan, WICA executive artistic director. “For nearly three decades, WICA has served the Whidbey Island community—bringing world-renowned artists, lecturers, performers, and productions to the island. We firmly believe art connects us all, inspiring empathy and creating powerful shared experiences.”
As Island County’s largest arts organization, WICA employs 600 regional, national, and international artists annually and offers 15,000 patrons more than 120 days of arts, educational, and cultural programming each year. With support for local youth through scholarship opportunities and expanded accessibility through pay-what-you-will initiatives, WICA is working to ensure that the arts are available to all. In addition to this, WICA’s four heritage festivals, which include internationally-renowned DjangoFest Northwest, bring in audience members from around the world and add more than $500K directly to the local economy.
“It is so exciting to be recognized for our commitment to the arts as we work to ensure that WICA remains a relevant and vital part of our island identity,” says Duncan. “We want to thank Theatre Puget Sound for this award as well as our dedicated volunteers, patrons, artists, staff, board, and supporters who have made this all possible.”
To learn more about WICA, please visit wicaonline.org.