Arts & Culture

Amabile Choir

The Amabile Choir of Bainbridge Island, founded in 2013, is a mixed-voice ensemble of 55-plus singers from Bainbridge Island and the Kitsap Peninsula. The choir’s members range in age from teenagers to retirees – all music lovers who enjoy singing. From its founding, Amabile’s purpose has been to express love of music through choral singing. The Amabile Choir provides musical education and choral performance fostering a genuine love of singing with a clear understanding of the value of music in people’s lives. Amabile draws from an eclectic repertoire including classical, international, jazz and religious works. Amabile aims to provide meaningful cultural experiences for the community. It performs two concerts annually, in late spring, then during the holiday season, in the beautiful St. Barnabas sanctuary, which the church generously provides in keeping with its own spiritual commitment to community service.

amabilechoir.com

Arts & Humanities Bainbridge

Arts & Humanities Bainbridge supports, promotes and fosters cultural organizations and local artists of all disciplines through a variety of vehicles and opportunities via our three pillars – Currents Online, Arts in Education and Public Art. Currents Online, (currentstonline.org) our community cultural website, hosts an extensive events calendar, stories, blogs & videos, local artist and cultural organization profiles, public art, an arts education sub-site, and links for artistic and cultural resources. Our second pillar, the Arts in Education program serves over 2,000 students by bringing teaching artist residencies into the public schools. And our third pillar, the Public Art program brings art to public spaces, through collaborations with the City of Bainbridge Island and various private investors.

Website: www.AHBainbridge.org

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Bainbridge Arts & Crafts

Bainbridge Arts & Crafts is a nonprofit art gallery that illuminates our corner of the world through monthly exhibitions, free art education, and outreach. Founded in 1948 by a group of ambitious, forward-thinking artists, craftspeople, and art educators, we are one of the region’s largest nonprofit galleries. We support the livelihood of more than 200 Northwest artists while serving close to 10,000 youth, adults, and seniors each year through more than 100 free programs taking place inside and outside of our gallery space.

Website: www.bacart.org

Bainbridge Chinese Culture & Arts

Learn the language and culture of one of the world’s great civilizations. Bainbridge Chinese Culture & Arts is a non-profit organization that provides Mandarin Chinese language training and an introduction to Chinese culture and arts to students and interested adults on Bainbridge Island and nearby communities in Washington State.

Website: bainbridgechinese.org

Bainbridge Chorale

In 1971 on Bainbridge Island, population 11,284, a group of music lovers gathered to discuss forming a choral singing group. They recruited singers and an accompanist, and on Sunday, December 12, 1971, David Pence directed the first performance of the Bainbridge Chorale. In the subsequent 48 years, the Island’s population has grown to 24,000, and the Chorale has grown along with it. In 2007, the mission was expanded to include a youth program, the Bainbridge Youth Choir. The 85-voice ensemble has brought all forms of music to our community– classical, jazz, spirituals, show tunes, folk songs – in an ever-growing repertoire that includes choral masterworks as well as the music of local composers. Many other groups have joined with us in concert over the years: the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Choral Arts Northwest, and the Cascadian Chorale, as well as string quartets, brass chorales, and jazz ensembles.

Website: www.bainbridgechorale.org

Bainbridge Community Piano Association

Bainbridge Community Piano Association owns and maintains the Yamaha C6 grand piano in Huney Hall at Waterfront Park Community Center. It sponsors community student recitals and presents eight professional concerts of jazz and classical music in the concert series First Sundays Concerts.

Website: www.firstsundaysconcerts.org

Bainbridge Island Downtown Association

BIDA’s mission is to build and sustain community through a vibrant downtown economy. Since 1992, Bainbridge has been recognized as one of only 12 nationally accredited Washington Main Streets through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Website: www.bainbridgedowntown.org

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum aims to preserve and share the stories of Bainbridge Island to promote a greater understanding of our community and the world in which we live. Through rotating exhibits, public programs, and docent-led tours, visitors connect with one another and explore different perspectives as they celebrate the diverse stories of Bainbridge Island. In 2019, the Museum experienced a 40% increase in visitation from 2018 as first-time visitors and members came in record numbers. The Museum remains free to the public and the staff is working to promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive museum experience through new collaborative partnerships. As the primary historical collecting organization, the Museum is also actively engaged in gathering and preserving cultural material and first-hand stories as history is happening today. Now, more than ever, the Museum recognizes this unique responsibility to document the present.

Website: www.bainbridgehistory.org

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

BIMA inspires curiosity, wonder and understanding by connecting people with the contemporary art and craft of the Puget Sound region. BIMA is committed to provide free general admission to the museum every day, made possible thanks to generous donors and BIMA members. We welcome visitors from all of the world to our ten gallery spaces rotated three times a year. The Museum’s Arts Growth Initiative advances a multi-pronged educational program, including field trips for students throughout the region, hands-on art projects for children of all ages, after-school art clubs, summer camps, workshops for adult learners, and programs for people going through Early Stage Memory Loss. BIMA’s year-round PRISM programming includes film series, concerts and lectures, as well as annual events such as the Momentum Arts Festival, Black History Month celebrations, MoJo Rhythm & Blues Festival, Within/Earshot Jazz Festival, and the Dia de los Muertos Celebration.

Website: www.biartmuseum.org

Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra

The training orchestra for musicians ages 7-18 on Bainbridge Island, BIYO provides students with the opportunity to perform orchestral music at a high degree of artistry while improving technical skills and fostering collaboration, teamwork and community involvement. Our three-tiered orchestra program allows students from beginner to advanced to benefit and grow from their involvement. We celebrate our performing artists with three annual free public concerts, collaborations with the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra, an educational local school’s outreach program and a festival open to all area musicians. Thank you for your support.

Website: www.biyo.us

Bainbridge Performing Arts

The quintessential heart of the island’s performing arts community, BPA has offered year-round LIVE entertainment on stage for over 60 years and is a gathering place for local talent in dance, music, and theatre. Our mission is to promote appreciation of and participation in the performing arts to build, educate, and inspire our vibrant, creative community.

Website: www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org

BARN — Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network

BARN – Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network – is a maker space and learning place. BARN offers classes in everything from woodworking, metalworking, fiber arts, printmaking and cooking to building robots and using 3D printers. It’s a place to build a garden bench, make a necklace, weave a rug, learn to code, or experiment with spices. BARN features 10 well-equipped workshops where people of all ages and skill levels learn from one another while working on personal and community service projects. To serve people beyond high school who are searching for a career or a career change, BARN now offers nine-month, full-time Certificate of Craft programs in woodworking and jewelry making to prepare people for a variety of jobs in these industries.

Website: bainbridgebarn.org

Bloedel Reserve

Bloedel Reserve is a public garden and nature reserve situated on Bainbridge Island. Our primary focus is the sustainable operation of our 150-acre, waterfront public garden in accordance with 4 organizational priorities: excellence in horticulture & design, commitment to stewardship & conservation, promotion of nature & well-being, and stimulation of inspiration & creativity. Approximately 60,000 people enjoy the grounds year-round through: walks on more than 2 miles of groomed trails, guided tours, lectures and facilitated discussions, community concerts and readings, and special events. We offer two signature programs at no cost to participants: Strolls for Well-Being programs (which use the garden as a therapy modality) in partnership with Virginia Mason and Island Volunteer Caregivers as well as the Creative Residency (an artist-in-residence program). Founded by Prentice and Virginia Bloedel in 1974 and opened to the public in 1988, Bloedel Reserve is a place to find refreshment and tranquility in nature.

Website: www.bloedelreserve.org

Filipino American Community of Bainbridge Island & Vicinity

Built in 1928 by the Bainbridge Island Fair Association, the Filipino Community Hall has been used and maintained by the Filipino American Community since 1943. Formerly a receiving site for the National Canning Company during strawberry season, the Hall is now primarily used as a meeting and event center for residents of Bainbridge Island & Vicinity. The Hall was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Incorporated in 1990, the Filipino Community of Bainbridge Island & Vicinity (aka Fil-Am) maintains and uses the hall to practice and preserve the cultures, customs, and traditions of the founders. The hall is available for rent and is used by many community organizations. Fil-Am supports other non-profits and individuals in need through volunteerism. Our mission is to encourage and bestow these values to our families and friends for continued support of the community.

inD Theatre

inD Theatre produces independent theatrical events in order to inspire social change, provide artist stipends and offer free admission so all community members may attend. inD Theatre is a Washington State nonprofit corporation that is fiscally sponsored by Shunpike, a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that provides independent arts groups the services, resources, and opportunities they need for sustainable success.

Website: www.indtheatre.org

Indipino Community of Bainbridge Island & Vicinity

Our work is focused on creating educational texts, films and forums that include the history, culture and traditions of Indigenous peoples, Filipino Americans and mixed heritage individuals and communities. We collaborate with the Bainbridge Island School District,Islandwood, Kitsap Regional Library Bainbridge Island Branch, the Bainbridge Historical Museum and the City of Bainbridge Island to promote programs, presentations, events, activities and exhibits that include the Filipino Community, the Indigenous community and the Indipino community of Bainbridge Island. Indipinos are the mixed heritage children of Aboriginal (Indigenous) women and Filipino immigrant fathers who intermarried in the 1940’s and 1950’s on Bainbridge Island.

Island Theatre

Island Theatre provides high quality theater in intimate settings for adults who like to think. Every other month we perform “scripts in hand” productions at the Bainbridge Public Library. The months in between, we host a potluck dinner and play reading in private homes. You’re welcome to just listen or to read a part. We also host our annual Ten Minute Play Festival, showcasing original plays by professional and aspiring Kitsap County playwrights, and featuring local actors and directors. Run entirely by volunteers, Island Theatre is supported by your individual donations, Bainbridge Community Foundation, COBI Cultural Funding, and One Call For All. Most productions are free to the community with donations gratefully accepted. Since its inception in 1994, Island Theatre has presented close to 200 plays at the library and on other community stages.

Website: www.IslandTheatre.org

Kids Discovery Museum

Founded in 2003 by dedicated volunteers, the Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu) bridges the gap in local early learning opportunities. It is the only nonprofit children’s museum on the Kitsap Peninsula and serves families from Bainbridge Island and the surrounding region. At KiDiMu, children and their grown-ups experience the power of learning together through play. They explore art, science and culture through hands-on exhibits, activities and programs, all of which follow the Early Learning and Development Guidelines established by the State of Washington. Research shows that such play-based, multi-sensory environments inspire a lifelong desire to learn in children. (Recommended for children birth to 8 years of age.)

Website: www.kidimu.org

Kids in Concert

An el Sistema-inspired program dedicated to building community and relationships and making beautiful music. Kids in Concert is an after-school program for ages 5-18 that ignites creativity though choir and string ensembles at absolutely no cost to families.

Website: www.kidsinconcert.org

Lesser-Known Players

Never heard of it? That’s our specialty! Familiar favorites and famous titles are well-represented by other local performing arts groups. We aim to provide our local community with exposure to rare, unusual, and/or out-of-mainstream theatrical works which for various reasons would not find a home at other local venues. Through these lesser-known works we seek to foster community engagement, dialogue, and understanding of history, politics, and the different ways of living, thinking, believing and behaving in society, and to provide more opportunities for inclusion in the performing arts to traditionally underrepresented groups.

https://www.lesserknownplayers.org

Olympic Performance Group

We provide dancers and performers of all ages and levels as well as artistic choreographers the opportunity to be involved in professional level productions and workshops. We strive to enrich the community by increasing dance appreciation through these events as well as to develop life skills in local youth who join OPG. Skills such as dedication, work ethic, team work and professionalism are learned through participation in the caliber of performance we achieve all while spreading the spirit of dance as a dynamic art form. With a fourteen year history, OPG has touched the lives of thousands in our local community and is continually looking for ways to partner with other organizations to bring even more, the joy of dance. Website: olympicperformancegroup.org

Website: olympicperformancegroup.org

Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest

Ovation! presents quality theatrical productions by and for our community while engaging all age groups in enriching theatrical and arts education experiences. Ovation! produces two to three mainstage productions per year and operates education programs that span multiple stages of life and foster interaction between diverse age groups. Programming includes Crescendo, an adult vocal ensemble; the Northwest Young Actor’s Studio; and summer GLEE camps for youth and adults. Founded in 2003 as a volunteer run organization, Ovation! has produced thirty-two shows in fifteen years. As a teaching organization, Ovation! has produced top-notch talent nurtured by first-class educators.

Website: www.ovationmtb.com

WEAVE Presents

Based out of Rolling Bay Hall, WEAVE Presents is a nonprofit performing arts and education organization that values curiosity, connection, and collaboration by showcasing our local independent arts community and inviting audiences to celebrate the multi-racial, multi-ethnic roots of American culture. America was woven from beautiful threads of varying colors and traditions. WEAVE Presents brings this fabric to life. We attract curious minds with our intimate atmosphere, intentional performances, and well-poured cocktails. We entice performance artists with our hospitality, great sound, and fair compensation. We foster new connections and strengthen our friendships while sharing music, theatre and community. Our unique programming honors the diverse communities that built this country and continue to make it strong and vibrant. Together we can begin to realize the ideals that make America an experiment worth fighting for. Supporting WEAVE advances social and economic justice in our own community.

Website: weavepresents.org