With so many businesses and activities shut down on Whidbey during the first two years of Covid, Lisa Berhnardt, the Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, is happy to say, “We’re here.” After being shut down for 16 months, the school re-opened last June with 35 classes and 400 students.
The Pacific Northwest Art School was created in 1986 by a small group of founders who believed there should be visual art classes available year round on Whidbey Island. The Pacific Northwest Art School is a not-for-profit organization. At its peak, before Covid shut down the Art School for several months, there were 60 – 70 workshops offered that were led and taught by an international and nationally known professional faculty.
The school is recognized by locals and many from off the island, as a place of high caliber visual art instruction. Lisa adds: “The reason we have such an excellent reputation is that we hire high caliber instructors known in their field of art.”
The school is also fully engaged with the Coupeville community. Although many might not consider an art school as a business, Lisa is quick to point out the school brings many people to Coupeville and elsewhere on Whidbey, people who visit many of the local tourist attractions on the island and also spend money at the restaurants and retail businesses.
Lisa points out that Central Whidbey currently has nearly 100 art studios. Pacific Northwest Art School hosts two large art competitions and shows, one being Plein Air, where the artists have the opportunity to compete for prizes and awards and show and sell their work.
The school will host the Plein Air Paintout again this year from August 15 – 18. For more information about Pacific Northwest Art School, and the classes and activities that are being offered this year, visit their website at: https://pacificnorthwestartschool.org/
You can also call the school at: (360)-678-3396 or Toll Free: (866)-678-3396. Current office hours are 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
