Fifth Year Shines for Tacoma, WA

The City of Tacoma held their Fifth Annual National Arts Program® awards ceremony at the Municipal Building and had a record attendance, including NAP Executive Director Jackie Szafara. The show is hung on separate floors of two municipal buildings in downtown Tacoma, strategically located as you exit the elevators on each floor. This gives the artwork a steady flow of viewers coming in and out of the buildings all day. One employee commented that “it is my favorite event all year because I get to see the halls filled with interesting artwork and it makes moving up and down the building much more interesting.”
 

Naomi Strom-Avila does an incredible job of coordinating the artwork and getting it hung. She received the NAP’s Fifth Anniversary award for her work and dedication to our program over the years. First, as an assistant, and then as a coordinator.
 

Sarah Idstrom, Vice Chair of the Tacoma Arts Commission was the keynote speaker for the evening and reflected on the importance of programs like the NAP in communities like theirs. It affords everyone an opportunity to participate in a juried show with their piece and see it hanging in a public space. Tacoma is a hotbed for glass blowing and the home of the Glass Museum so a creative energy is always evident there.