Arts Commission

Volunteer members of the arts commission must be a resident of the greater Gig Harbor area within Pierce County (west of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and east of the Purdy Bridge). Preference may be shown for city residents. Members serve three-year terms.

Responsibilities

The arts commission is authorized to encourage, conduct, sponsor, or co-sponsor public programs to further the development and public awareness of fine arts and performing arts in our community. The full scope of the arts commission is defined in Gig Harbor Municipal Code (GHMC) Title 2.49.

Background

The arts commission was formed largely due to a growing interest in public art for Gig Harbor. Prior to 2001, there were no city-sponsored cultural art grants or monies for public art. In 1999, the Fishermen’s Memorial proposal was making its way through a committee of local volunteers committed to creating a bronze tribute to Gig Harbor’s maritime history in partnership with the Cultural Arts Commission (which later disbanded). The group reviewed design proposals from nationally acclaimed sculptors and eventually approved the large bronze design by Russian artist, Alexandre Safonov, of a fishermen pulling his net from the sea that is represented in Jerisich Park today. The same group eventually became the city’s first membership of the Gig Harbor Arts Commission (GHAC) in 2001.

Public Art Inventory

The Public Art Inventory (PDF) represents a record of all art gifted to, acquired, or commissioned by the City of Gig Harbor. It was published in 2010.