Allied Arts supports community | Guest Opinion

A recent guest opinion mentioned the importance of the performing arts to the economic and cultural development of the Tri-Cities. This article will add the visual arts to the cultural mix.

Creativity is a common denominator of performing and visual arts. There is a major difference. Performing arts focus on the performance: a play, a concert, a ballet. You attend, and it becomes a memory. Visual arts have staying power. Displays and exhibitions last for weeks or months for continuing enjoyment. If something catches your eye, you can purchase it and enjoy it for years.

Wineries, restaurants, and retail shops often display local artists’ creations. Several artists have personal galleries, displaying both their works and other artists. The Tri-Cities has a major, diverse gallery, the Gallery at the Park operated by the Allied Arts Association.

Allied Arts’ Gallery at the Park sells the work of over 200 local and regional artists and hosts monthly shows in a professional gallery setting. Art education support includes summer classes for children, workshops for adults, scholarships for high school and college students, and cash awards at a juried show. Supporting the performing arts, the Gallery provides an indoor, air conditioned stage for the Tumbleweed Music Festival. Of course, there is Art in the Park.

Every summer (this year excepted because of the COVID-19 lockdown) Howard Amon Park is filled with booths for over 200 artists from all over the western United States, along with local performing groups and food. The two-day festival in 2019 generated $450,000 in sales. The Gallery’s commission kept over $80,000 in the local economy. An estimated 150 of the artists stayed in local hotels and ate in local restaurants over the two-day event. About 40,000 people attended the festival.

The economic viability of the visual arts is demonstrated by the 72-year survival of the Gallery at the Park.

Commissions on gallery sales and Art in the Park revenue have kept the Gallery on firm financial footing. As a non-profit, our income is recycled into the community through our paid employee and summer teacher salaries, scholarships, awards, services, and building maintenance.

Perhaps the best demonstration of our economic viability is our survival during the lockdown. There is no question we will reopen and continue operations as soon as the lockdown ends.

Community support is evident for all of the arts. Both Richland and Kennewick are pursuing designation by the state as Certified Creative Districts.

Richland’s effort includes visual and performing arts organizations and individuals, along with other creative businesses, such as restaurants, graphics arts businesses, even tattoo parlors.

A vibrant creative arts presence makes us a real community, not just a big subdivision in the desert. As we move through the phases towards reopening our cities, I encourage everyone to sample the many forms of creative art available and to support the ones that appeal to your tastes.

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Allied Arts supports community | Guest Opinion."