What Is A Creative District?

A Creative District is a fun place to live, work, and visit. It’s geographically defined area of cultural and economic activity. It’s the heart of a community. It is a place for people to gather and enjoy their community’s arts and culture.

A district is a place where innovation and creativity can thrive. A place that helps the community move enthusiastically into the future.

Our Mission

To support and promote Anacortes as a place that honors our rich art history and builds on that history by growing the opportunities for creative people and businesses to live and work in Anacortes.

Benefits of State Certification to our Community

  • Promote our creative identity

  • Grow jobs in the creative sector

  • Increase tourism and bring new visitors

  • Attract artists, start-ups, and creative businesses

  • Create opportunities for affordable housing. This may include live/work and maker spaces for artists.

  • Boost livability

  • Redevelop historic assets in your community

Anacortes Creative District Goals

  • Recruitment and support of creative economy businesses

  • Expand access to art and culture for underserved populations

  • Create a Makers Space

  • Develop an intentional public art program

  • Collaborative projects to expand workforce wage housing for creative economy employees

  • Support additional art and cultural events and activities in Anacortes

  • Build an Art Center or other art and culture venues / site

  • Market Anacortes as a destination for art and culture

  • Develop opportunities for music, art, theatre and dance to reach all demographics