Northwest Art Center

Mission

The Northwest Art Center (NWAC) enhances lives by teaching the value of art, ideas, expression and creativity through quality visual art education for all ages and abilities.

Description

The Northwest Art Center is a nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to serving the rural and neighboring communities of the Snoqualmie Valley area. Founded as a non-profit in 2009, NWAC strives to make art available to all. Our goal is to provide a diverse, creative, and inspiring curriculum for kids and adults alike. NWAC offers drawing, painting, pastels, pottery, after school programs, summer camps, adult paint nights, workshops with local artists, private events and much more.

With your support NWAC will be able to continue to provide our community with quality art programs that promote self-expression, socialization, visual and abstract thinking, as well as a studio space that is safe, affirming, and inspiring - a space where our community can Gather, Create, and Thrive.

NWAC offers several programs that are free and open to the public. We serve a wide range of people from all walks of life, from various racial, socioeconomic status and ethnic groups living in and around the Snoqualmie Valley. We also provide art experiences for seniors, young adults with disabilities and families recovering from abuse and homelessness through important partnerships.

NWAC is supported by adult and youth volunteer hours annually. Students from the local high school art club, honor society and robotics clubs volunteer annually. Adults donate countless hours to assist with open hours, open studio time, organizing, inventory, marketing, teaching assistance and much more.

NWAC supports arts in local schools by helping in the classrooms, leading activities, and creating arts-based field-trip opportunities. NWAC also works to promote art appreciation and stewardship by engaging the community in art and creating outreach events that have the arts at their core, including public art events. Through these efforts, NWAC supports access to art to over 5,000 community members of all ages and abilities annually.

Help NWAC revitalize the Snoqualmie Valley and neighboring communities, through your financial donation to keep Art Alive and Thriving.

Recognition

The Northwest Art Center was originally founded in 2004 by two local artists, Susan Jenkins and Dianne Brudnicki, who shared a passion for art and wanted to provide a space for area residents to take art classes, buy art supplies, and view artwork. Dianne later left the business to start a new venture while Susan stayed on to see the art center into its next chapter.

In 2008, as the economy began to falter and family budgets became constrained, Susan realized that the only way to continue to provide quality visual art education to the community was to become a non-profit organization. In April 2009, the Northwest Art Center officially became a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN #27-0242357).

Since becoming a nonprofit, we have been able to provide the opportunity for hundreds of area children, youth, and adults to benefit from art education and engage hundreds more in the arts through our community outreach efforts. This would not be possible without the generous support of area individuals, businesses, local governments, and foundations.

Your Support Can Provide

$30 — Support Creative Exploration

Helps provide shared materials that allow students to learn new artistic techniques during class time.

$50 — Fuel a Week of Art-Making

Covers essential supplies used across a full week of classes, keeping programs accessible and hands-on.

$100 — Refresh Class Studios

Restocks high‑use materials in our fine arts, pottery, and digital arts studios, so artists of all ages have what they need to create confidently.

$250 — Fund a Student Scholarship

Provides partial scholarship support, opening the door for a student who might not otherwise be able to participate.

$500 — Strengthen Our Equipment Fund

Contributes to upgrading specialized tools—such as kilns, presses, or digital art equipment—that expand what our artists can learn and create.

$1000 — Launch New Artistic Mediums

Helps bring new classes and mediums to the community by supporting the purchase of major equipment needed to introduce expanded programming.