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Council authorizes $23,000 from arts fund to support Pacific Northwest Chalk Fest in 2026
Summary
The council approved a $23,000 appropriation from the city’s creative arts fund balance to cover a shortfall for the Pacific Northwest Chalk Fest, which was postponed to summer 2026; the event already received a partial LTAC award and arts-fund appropriation.
The Oak Harbor City Council authorized use of $23,000 from the creative arts fund balance on May 6 to supplement funding for a Pacific Northwest Chalk Fest event that organizers have postponed to 2026.
Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith said the event brings international chalk artists, local performers and family activities and estimated a three‑day festival could draw about 3,000 people per day. Smith said the event budget is about $75,000: roughly $40,000 for artists, $5,000 for city marketing, and $5,000 for promotion with the remainder for event production and management through a contracted event firm. The arts commission applied for Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) funds and received $17,000 of the $35,000 requested. The 2025–26 budget already included a $35,000 arts-fund appropriation; the council voted to cover the remaining shortfall from the arts fund balance (which staff said holds roughly $200,000).
“Chalk Fest…brings in international artists from all around the world,” Brian Smith said, describing artist categories (copyists, free artists and 3‑D illusionists), family activities and a supporting festival with live music and food vendors. He said the event will likely be held at Windjammer Park and that the contracted management company will handle artist negotiation and much of the marketing.
Council members asked detailed questions about marketing, sponsorships and whether awarding the arts-fund supplement now would affect future LTAC applications. Council Member Wiesner expressed concern that $5,000 in city marketing may be insufficient for a first-year tourism draw but heard from staff that the contracted firm’s management fee includes an active marketing plan and that sponsorships—such as artist sponsorships—would be pursued to reduce net city cost. Council Member Stuckey, who participates on LTAC, said the application’s score reflected a mix of support and concerns about measurable metrics for a new local event; she asked staff to define success metrics for future evaluation.
Council Member Romero moved to authorize the arts-fund supplement; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
