Mission
To facilitate the building of a world class center for the arts to enhance the educational, economic, and cultural vitality for SW Washington, to be centrally located in the city of Vancouver.
Board of Trustees
- Val Ogden, Chair
- Susan Courtney, Vice-Chair
- Paul Christensen, Treasurer
- Ralph Willson, Secretary
- Leslie Durst
- Steve Horenstein
- Dan Tonkovich
- Steve Stuart
Founding Board Advisory Committee
- Val Ogden
- Susan Courtney
- Paul Christensen
- Cindi Olson
- Connie Platt
- Jan Asai
- Melody Avril
- Jill Botvinik
- Virginia Holter
- Jim Keithley
- Hooja Kim
- Joel Littauer
- Sue Hennum
- Lisa Gibert
- Bruce Romanish
- Steve Stuart
- Dan Tonkovich
- Ralph Willson
Organized in the spring of 2003 and incorporated that fall as a non-profit corporation the SW Washington Center for the Arts has been busy building the foundation for a successful effort to construct a facility in Clark County. The first step was the authorization of a feasibility study by AMS a nationally recognized arts consultant. This study was generously funded by the City of Vancouver. The study demonstrated a strong support for an art center.
In the spring of 2005 Clark College proposed the replacement of Foster Hall and included in the new building a 700 seat auditorium. It was hoped that this facility, located on the Clark College campus, could be enhanced with additional seats paid for by the community. This partnership with Clark College would have met College needs as well as provided an opportunity for the community to participate in building a first class arts center. Unfortunately, the project did not rank high enough in priority to get funding in the 2007-09 state capital budget. Clark College has had to defer its plans for the replacement of Foster Hall to the future.
As a result of this development the Board decided to move ahead with a new direction. At a workshop, facilitated by John McKibbon, President of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, the Board redefined its mission and established new committees. The Board is exploring site options and potential partners for the building in Vancouver and Clark County.