Arts Participation Initiative - CREATE

CREATE is “your community center for the arts” as they boldly print on their brochure. As the community center for arts their work is broad. They own their building outright which was formerly a Baptist Church. The open room upstairs with a stage and lighting is used for art exhibition, play, events and classes. Downstairs they have classrooms for making art. Classes from yoga to a fiber spinning session, open to all, are held in the space. During summer they have a youth art program.

CREATE's member appreciation and chili tasting

CREATE began in 1995 by volunteering in the schools to provide art. They realized the community needed a dedicated space and purchased their building in 1998. In 2001, they renovated the space to accommodate people with disabilities and created a larger main room.

Over time the organization has gone through various transformations and expanded its mission. They work to create opportunities for expression, enjoyment and appreciation of the arts and humanities through individual and community participation.

What they are now feels like a grass roots movement. They have no staff and the board works together to make the programs successful. Three board members work four days a week in the office / gallery from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Another board member volunteers her time at home doing many computer-oriented tasks including work on the impressive quarterly newsletter. Other volunteers do everything from pull weeds to scrub sinks.

CREATE originally hired a part time administrator with the Arts Participation Initiative grant. This was the first time the organization had hired someone. Having her in the office broadened their participation because she kept office hours. Also through the open hiring process they changed the perception that they were more of a club than an arts center. They learned from the experience with a paid administrator but decided not to renew the position. The main reason being that she didn’t really understand the core of CREATE’s mission as the community center for the arts.

Since that time board members stepped up to continue the work done by the administrator. They are finding this works for them. They continue to keep regular hours but instead of one paid person now there are three volunteers.

CREATE’s current Arts Participation Initiative Project is to teach youth art classes. The summer Art Smart program had four days of activity, including beading, wall hangings, acrylic painting and the hit of the week, spinning directly from Riet Westphal’s angora rabbit. The program will continue next summer.

The office is located behind the stage. It’s an organized space with lots of art and photos. On the wall they have samples from their classes. It’s a great idea to have samples from the teachers right there. The talent of the instructors is apparent. If someone comes in, they can look at the wall and decide what classes they want to take. The classes are reasonably priced, ranging from $12 to $65, which is a multiple day class. Pend Oreille County is economically challenged and CREATE gears the prices to what the community can afford.

I attended the annual Membership Appreciation Night. When I walked in I was greeted by a wave of charisma. It is apparent why people want to be a part of CREATE. You feel welcome and want to be with these people. Membership for one year begins at $25. You can be a lifetime member for $1000 and the wall boasts many people who fit in this category.

Dorene Greg (aka Darlene Bunyea) concert was the entertainment for the evening. She is a professional singer and guitar player who travels extensively sharing her talents and decided to make Newport her home base. During the evening she had us singing along and a few were dancing.

Pots of delicious chili and door prizes added spice to the event. Everyone who came got a wine glass with CREATE’s logo and a Chili and Sides cookbook. Members voted for the best chili and the Elk Chili won. Inside the cookbook they put the 2007 - 2008 CREATE exhibition schedule.

During the months of November and December, they use their space to showcase member crafts and artwork and offer it for sale. This benefits the creative community by giving them a place to show and sell their work.

CREATE was asked to participate in Spokane’s First Night Art Exhibit on the coming New Year’s Eve. Spokane is less than an hour away from Newport. This is an exciting opportunity to show all the talent that Newport has to offer. Local artists will get larger exposure and make new contacts. In addition to artwork, they will have musical performances and demonstrations in spinning and weaving.

CREATE is part of the Pend Oreille River Arts Alliance. The alliance includes The Cutter Theatre, Evergreen Art Association, the historical society, Pend Oreille Valley Festival and other groups. Being part of the larger alliance helps them to network and work together to promote arts in the Pend Oreille County.

CREATE is finding its own formula for success. And for the rural situation there, it feels right to have the board run the show. CREATE is growing an art community and reaching out to find solutions to its local needs.

Site visit and photo by Saya Moriyasu, November 2007.

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