Each year, I take such joy in participating in the Kirkland Arts Center’s Avant Garden Auction & Garden Party. As a longtime board member, I am always thrilled to participate in this lively gathering and fundraiser. Attending community events is an integral part of my mission as a community member and realtor — it connects me to the people that make the place where we live so special.
At this year’s KAC Auction, the organization not only surpassed their budget goal of $169K, but achieved an outstanding gross of $195K, all made possible by community members who care.
I am invested in the work of the KAC, and I want them to continue to be able to offer high quality arts educational experiences, connect communities, and increase creative engagement in and around Kirkland. I’m particularly excited about their upcoming projects, including a new partnership with Francis Village, a subsidized housing community in Totem Lake where the KAC is offering a series of art workshops for families and formerly unhoused individuals, including veterans and youth.
In addition, the KAC is continuing their partnership with Urban Artworks, which allows their “Mural Apprentice Program’ to be represented on the Eastside, offering teens an arts-based employment training program. They are also rekindling their partnership with Peter Kirk Elementary, with plans to offer after-school workshops in 2025 and beyond.
I am so moved by the incredible generosity of our community and look forward to continuing to support the Kirkland Arts Center in their work to come.