Council approves $1,601 arts grant to install Palomar Lion's Head at Whidbey Playhouse

The Oak Harbor City Council on July 21 approved the Art Commission’s recommendation to fund $1,601 toward installing a donated Palomar Lion’s Head sculpture at the Whidbey Playhouse.

Craig Lums Cole, the city’s parks and recreation director, presented the Arts Commission recommendation and said the project had traveled through the newly approved arts plan and project process. J.R. Russell, chair of the Art Commission, described the request as the first submission to complete the commission’s new process and said the sculpture was donated by the donor family and had been on hold pending commission approval.

"This is the very first thing that has gone all the way through from a citizen hitting a button with an art submission," Russell said, describing the commission’s review and the path to the recommendation.

Tracy Davidson, co-chair of the Art Commission, said the donation came from a local family with ties to the playhouse and confirmed the commission’s proposal to fund a portion of the installation costs. Parks and recreation staff said the Playhouse owns the piece and the requested $1,601 would be paid from the arts fund reserved for such projects.

Councilmember Peterson moved to accept the Arts Commission recommendation and funding; the council seconded the motion and approved it on a voice vote. Councilmembers discussed assuring professional installation and preservation of the sculpture’s condition as it is installed on Playhouse property.

The city will record the expenditure from its arts fund and coordinate installation details with the Playhouse and the Art Commission.