SJC Gets a Seat on WA Arts Commission

Recently, Governor Jay Inslee appointed Diane Martindale to the Washington State Arts Commission (ARTSWA). This is a three-year appointment and the first time someone from San Juan County has been on the commission.

Diane serves as the chair of the Art Committee for the San Juan Island Public Library, on the board of the Island Arts League, and is an advisor for the San Juan Islands Museum of Art where she was the director of the most recent Bergner exhibition. For IMA she has written grants to fund arts education in our public schools and Family Arts Days. Diane is a member of the San Juan County Arts Council and a supporter of the 100 Friends of Old Island Barns.

Most recently she has been a voice in the community for public participation in public art. She is a volunteer in CATS for the San Juan Island Community Theatre. When living in Houston was on the board of the Houston Ebony Opera Guild and a member of Women in the Visual and Literary Arts. Diane is a life-long supporter of the arts, but her own personal talent is confined to quilting.

She believes that the work done by individual artists and organizations for years resulted in bringing San Juan County arts to state-level attention. Working with an even more diverse set of like-minded individuals, Diane hopes to learn of a range of successful programs and ideas to benefit our county.

Diane is the owner of ACQUISITIONS art consulting business that assists businesses and individuals with their developing collections. Previously she was a marketing consultant specializing in medical device products. Diane has worked for companies such as Medtronic and Baxter Healthcare. Her M.S is in Microbiology from Rutgers and her B.S is in biology from the University of Illinois.

ArtsWA gives grants to organizations and communities large and small in the visual, performing and literary arts. ArtsWA, established in 1961, speaks up for the public value in art, builds leadership from and for the arts, strengthens art education in our schools, documents the economic impact of arts on Washington communities, builds participation in the arts, and acquires and cares for artwork in the State Art Collection, sited at our K-12 public schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies.
According to San Juan County Arts Council and the San Juan Islands Visitor’s Bureau the collective arts activities in the county significantly enhance the economic prosperity of the county and are a cornerstone of the quality of life here and our appeal as a travel destination.

Other 18 members of the Commission come from around the state and serve at artistic institutions, the boards of opera, symphonies and museums, work on installing public art, teach writing programs or head local arts programs, as examples.

Detailed information is available at http://www.arts.wa.gov

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