arts
Arts and culture contribute directly and indirectly to community prosperity through generating economic activity, providing employment, and making each community a better place to live and work for all its citizens.
From left: Kate Becker, Creative Economy Strategist, Office of the King County Executive; CFR Editor Shawn Lent; Robin Avni, ArtsWA Commissioner; Karen Hanan, Executive Director, Washington State Arts Commission; and Mary Anne Carter, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts; during a tour of the Amazon Spheres and Arts Lab, August 2019.
WASHINGTON STATE ARTS COMMISSION
Robin was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee as a Commissioner to the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) in 2019. ArtsWA promotes and documents the public value of the arts in community statewide focusing on diversity, equity and inclusiveness in the arts. The commissioners and staff work together to support the following programs for the state: COVID Relief Funding, Public Art, Grants, Creative Districts and Arts in Education.
2017 Luncheon with NEA Chairperson Jane Chu along with a team of regional arts advocates, to celebrate the NEA's support for the arts in King County and their Creative Justice program, an arts-based alternative to incarceration for young people.
4Culture + KING COUNTY
Robin was a member of the 4Culture Board of Directors for five years; with three years serving on the Executive Board as Member-at-Large, Vice President and President. 4Culture, the cultural services agency for King County, supports arts, heritage, historic preservation, and public art throughout the county using Lodging Tax and the 1% for Art funds. To learn more about 4Culture's other programming, please visit their website.
ARTS COMMISSIONS
Robin has expanded her involvement with arts and culture in the region through service to the Washington State Arts Commission and the Gig Harbor Arts Commission. Prior she served as Vice Chair of the Bellevue Arts Commission and Commissioner on the Pierce County Arts Commission.
The Gig Harbor Arts Commission is authorized to encourage, conduct, sponsor or co-sponsor public programs to further the development and public awareness of arts, culture, and heritage in the community.
The Pierce County Arts Commission administers two Arts’ budgets: one is used for the Art Grant Program and the annual PSESD Regional High School Arts contest and the other for 1% for Arts projects.
The Bellevue Arts Commission encourages and supports the arts as a vital part of community life. They foster Bellevue’s cultural development through public art, grants to local artists and organizations and cultural planning.
Cultural planNING
The Gig Harbor Arts Commission is currently engaged in creating and promoting a Cultural Element for future engagement and growth for the arts in the community. Robin is part of a team of citizens and business owners creating a vision for the city.
Robin also participated in the original cultural planning process for the City of Bellevue as a member of the Bellevue Arts Commission and lead for the planning project.
Arts, culture and creativity are essential keys to a community’s unique and distinctive identity. Creativity is also the engine of the new economy. Arts and culture contribute directly and indirectly to community prosperity through generating economic activity, providing employment, making the communities attractive to citizens and visitors alike.