For 33 years, Arts & Humanities Bainbridge has served the cultural community on Bainbridge Island. We began our journey as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1986 called the Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council. Much has been accomplished over the years.

Some of our highlights include publishing Exhibition magazine (later named Currents magazine), running the Bainbridge in Bloom garden tour, administering the city’s Public Art Program, assisting with the development of the Cultural Element of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, managing the annual Poetry Corners project, and Celluloid Film Festival, to name a few.

A couple of years ago, we looked around. It was time to take stock of what we were doing and how we best fit into this abundantly creative place we live in.

We talked to many of you on the island and asked what you thought. Where were we needed? How were we needed? We listened to your answers and made some decisions. We decided we didn’t need to do things others were doing. They’re doing them well. We decided to do the things we are uniquely positioned to do.

We have built a cultural gathering place called Currents Online for everyone to use. It’s an online community location to share what you’re doing and discover what others are doing. It’s a place to find and share art, music, stories and more.

We have a tremendously successful arts program in the public schools. The Arts in Education program partners local teaching artists with public classroom teachers to bring art into the curriculum.

And we have a robust, passionate Public Art Committee that has brought world-class art to the island, gracing our public spaces.

We call these our three pillars.

And now you can find out about what we’re doing on our newly renovated website, ahbainbridge.org. So much has changed, but we have retained the essence of who we were in the beginning. Please visit our site, call our office or stop in for a visit. We’d love to share our three pillars with you. 

ANNE SMART – AHB Executive Director and member of the Currents Editorial Board