Oak Harbor Arts Commission agrees to forward Creative Arts Foundation MOU to city council for review
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Summary
After a presentation from the Oak Harbor Creative Arts Foundation, the Arts Commission voted to forward the idea of a memorandum of understanding to city council; the foundation outlined goals including a performing arts center, a makerspace and a community-funded feasibility study.
The Oak Harbor Arts Commission agreed to move forward with a proposal to formalize relations with the Oak Harbor Creative Arts Foundation by asking the city council to consider a memorandum of understanding.
The foundation’s president, Cynthia Mason, told the commission the nonprofit formed in 2019, obtained an EIN in 2021 and secured 501(c)(3) status in 2024. "As I sit on the Arts Commission, but I also am president and chair of the Oak Harbor Creative Arts Foundation," Mason said, describing goals that include a performing-arts and events center, a community makerspace and partnership-building across local arts organizations.
Why it matters: The foundation said an MOU would create a formal partnership channel between the non‑profit and city government and help the groups pursue fundraising and program delivery together. Lynn Goble, speaking about the foundation’s early fundraising work, said the group had completed a Phase 1 feasibility step and selected a consultant (Campaign Counsel) to begin a larger study; she noted the foundation had previously aimed to raise $35,000 for community engagement and donor-capacity work.
Commission discussion and action: Commissioners asked for clarification on study scope and donor capacity; a commission member made a motion to forward the MOU concept to city council for consideration in January and another commissioner seconded the motion. The transcript records the motion as carried; it also contains a later reference to a recusal/abstention and does not include a detailed roll-call tally. The commission directed staff to place the topic on the council agenda and to follow up at the January meeting if needed.
What the foundation proposed: Presenters described multiple initiatives: a roughly 500-seat performing arts venue concept, a makerspace for instruction and small-scale sales, and community outreach to build programming. The foundation also noted support from local community groups: winners of the Mister Oak Harbor competition selected the foundation as their service project for the coming year to assist with fundraising and outreach.
Next steps: Staff and the foundation will pursue scheduling with council; the commission indicated it would continue working with the foundation and consider a memorandum of understanding as part of the winter agenda.
