Vintage

Cultural Mission

As a part of its cultural mission, the Depot Arts Center offers a legal umbrella to responsible and qualified organizations in the worlds of dance, music, literature, visual arts, agriculture, and crafts. Through payment of annual dues, a number of umbrella groups benefit from shared 501(c)(3) status, tax preparation and liability insurance, yet each group retains organizational, fund-raising and public autonomy, separate and distinct from those of the Center.

The renowned Vela Luka Dance Ensemble is one such umbrella organization. A dance troupe dedicated to preserving and sharing traditional Croatian culture, it performs nationally and abroad. The Vela Luka Dance Ensemble was featured during the 1986 Bicentennial celebration in New York City. In 1997, it received the Governor’s Cultural Heritage Award.

Each Saturday from mid-May through October, the Anacortes Farmer’s Market brings an air of festivity to the Depot grounds. Dedicated to offering only locally produced goods—flowers, fresh and organic produce, fine crafts, seafood, home-baked breads and sweets—the exceptional quality of this open-air market has made it a favorite gathering spot for locals and visitors alike.

Depot Arts Center Mission: The Depot Arts Center, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to promoting artistic excellence by providing facilities that serve as a resource for community interaction. The Depot Arts center endeavors to achieve its artistic goals through research and education, special events, distinguished exhibits and displays.

A Legacy of Grand Vision

The legacy of the Depot Arts Center dates back to 1911, when the Northwest was booming and waterfront towns up and down the coast vied to become the end line for the Great Northern Railroad. Anacortes was chosen as the site for a gracious terminal, envisioned in the “grand style” and built with meticulous attention to detail. Following construction, the local newspaper reported “neither money nor skill were spared” in the design and execution of the new passenger station.

Now on the National Register for Historic Buildings, the Depot Arts Center honors its legacy as a hub of activity, where pioneers of past and present converge in the grand vision for tomorrow.