CITIZEN JOURNALISTA

Jane Q Public: Bainbridge Island

Archive for July 31, 2009

Movies in the Park starts at/with Twilight!

Can’t sleep through this heat? August brings late outdoor movies to Waterfront Park. The Downtown Association presents the popular teen vampire film, “Twilight,” tomorrow night at dusk. Bring blankets and chairs and prepare to see your neighbors! Upcoming films also include “Roman Holiday” and “The Parent Trap” (1960s version).

BIAHC says farewell to ED Zon Eastes

Zon Eastes said farewell to BIAHC members from the tea room at Bloedel Reserve

Zon Eastes, center, said farewell to BIAHC members at the tea room at Bloedel Reserve last Friday. In photo on left: Pam Christiansen, The Creativity Center; right: Stephanie Harris, Bainbridge Chorale

The latest high profile casualty for the island during slow economic times is the loss of Zon Eastes, the executive director of the Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council (BIAHC).

Eastes’ position was eliminated after major cuts in Cultural Element funding from the city threatened to shut down the agency.

The BIAHC distributes city funds to 11 arts organizations and eight arts programs on the island. Those agencies receive as much as 15 percent of their funding through the city, whereas the BIAHC’s budget from the city is closer to 50 percent.

The loss of Eastes, who is relocating to his native Vermont, has been lamented across the arts community as the staff  reorganizes to accommodate a greatly reduced budget.

While all of the arts and humanities organizations on the island now struggle to stay afloat, it is perceived that the biggest loss is that of Eastes, who has, in three short years, gained an activist’s reputation for his enthusiastic support for agency collaboration, his advocacy for the cultural and economic values of arts on Bainbridge Island, and his highly energetic devotion to the island’s rich cultural community.  

Eastes came to Bainbridge Island three years ago from Brattleboro, VT, where he previously served as executive director of the Brattleboro Music Center.