Willowbrook Arts Camp honored with Tualatin Community Enhancement Award

The Tualatin City Council honored Willowbrook Arts Camp with the 2026 Community Enhancement Award, recognizing the camp’s multi‑decade role in local arts education. Janet Stiger Carr, chair of the Tualatin Arts Advisory Committee, presented the award and described Willowbrook’s “sustained presence over the decades” in areas from ceramics to theater.

Julie Ludman, Tualatin’s recreation manager and staff liaison to the Arts Advisory Committee, said the committee selected the recipient to recognize “contributions to significant art endeavors and experiences within the Tualatin community.” She noted that Willowbrook has provided hands‑on arts opportunities “since 1982,” and that this year the program returned to Brown’s Ferry Park with a reinvigorated staff team.

Sarah Hinton, identified in the meeting as Willowbrook’s executive director, accepted the award and thanked city staff for logistical support, including facilities coordination. “We are really grateful for [the department] and the rest of the staff that kind of supports what we do,” Hinton said, noting the camp launched quickly last year and has since stabilized its operations.

Councilor Brooks, the council’s arts liaison, presented the physical award and called the camp “a part of Tualatin’s history and an option for families.” Council members and attendees applauded, and staff arranged a brief photo opportunity with the honorees.

The arts committee’s annual report, delivered earlier in the meeting, outlined additional projects for 2026–27 including traffic signal‑box art wraps, public installations, grant support for local arts organizations, and continued development of arts policy and installations in park projects and downtown revitalization.