Thanks to its cultural, historical and natural resources, Coupeville was recently certified as Washington’s 19th creative district.

According to the Washington State Arts Commission, also known as “ArtsWA,” creative districts are communities that are fun to live in, work in and visit. This certification, awarded to Coupeville with a unanimous vote by ArtsWA’s board of commissioners on Nov. 7, can attract more creative minds and businesses, increase tourism, create opportunities for affordable housing and give easier access to grants and funding for art purposes.

Through this program, ArtsWA provides disticts with specialized resources, a $10,000 startup grant, up to $50,000 in capital project funding for small projects, technical assistance, training and networking.

According to a resolution adopted by the Coupeville Town Council in 2023, the district includes Northwest Birch Street, North Main Street, Front Street (from Northeast Center Street to Northwest Alexander Street), the wharf, Northwest Alexander Street, the Town Green, Northwest Coveland Street, Colburn Street and Town Park.

The Pacific Northwest Art School, which serves a fiduciary role for the district, had been considering applying for the certification since before COVID-19. Representatives of the art school and other organizations in town met with a state representative to learn how to apply, but once the pandemic hit the island, the process was paused until 2022.

Two more years later, Coupeville has finally joined Langley, Anacortes, Port Townsend, Issaquah, Olympia, Edmonds and other districts that have been recognized since 2017.

In the press release, Creative Districts Manager Annette Roth said that while each district has its own history and character, they all share a community that is supportive of its creative professionals.

Every year, the town hosts the Water Festival and its Indigenous canoe races, the Arts & Crafts Festival, Mussel Fest and the Plein Air Painting Competition. On top of that, Coupeville is home to the Pacific Northwest Art School, which attracts students from all over the country, and the Island County Historical Museum.

According to Lisa Bernhardt, co-chair of the Coupeville Creative District Steering Committee and the executive director of the art school, all creative districts have to work on a community project. Coupeville’s creative district will support and promote Beaver Tales Coffee’s Cultural Hub, a multicultural project that educates the community through talks, storytelling and music with a focus on the island’s original inhabitants, the Lower Skagit people.