07/17/2008: "Art Museum & Westcott Bay Unite"

For the past seven months, WBI & VAM have been discussing ways in which they could better serve the community by working together.

In a retreat held July 13th, the Boards of the Westcott Bay Institute for Art & Nature (the Sculpture Park and the Island Museum of Art) and the Visual Arts Museum (VAM) agreed to a full “merger” to be effective January 1, 2009.

They will, however, begin partnering immediately. The two groups will share a booth at the upcoming San Juan County Fair and continue with all their planned exhibitions, lectures, shows, and educational programs.

Jointly announced by WBI President Nina Le Baron and VAM President Pamela Nichols, “we’ll be forming a new organization with a new name and a combined Board but the basic missions of the two organizations are so synergistic that merging missions will be transparent to the public.

The new organization will be committed to having a museum in Friday Harbor eligible for accreditation that provides outstanding visual arts exhibits, experiences, lectures and education. The Sculpture Park will be the keystone satellite.”

Board of Directors of WBI are Nina Le Baron, Suzy Pingree, Peg Gerlock, Beth Nicholson, Misty Todd and Sheila Webb. VAM Board of Trustees are Pamela Nichols, George Johnson, Marilyn Luckman, and Bo Turnage.