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Arts & Humanities Bainbridge (AHB) is Bainbridge Island’s cultural hub. AHB bridges the arts and business communities by leading the Bainbridge Creative District (BCD), and promotes Bainbridge’s vibrant arts and culture through our online media platform, BainbridgeCurrents.com.  The BCD and Currents highlight the island as a cultural destination, attract visitors, and deepen appreciation for our cultural offerings and heritage. The arts and humanities enhance our quality of life and create a vibrant, attractive place to live, work and visit. AHB also administers: Public Art; Community Arts Education; Creative Circles; Artist Grants; Panel & Speaker Presentations.

Our Mission

Connecting Community Through Arts, Humanities, And Cultural Programs.

Our New Logo

Arts & Humanities Bainbridge is proud to announce our updated AHB logo! Featuring a newly defined shape and set of expressive colors. The updated look is formed by the same three connected letters that are symbolic of our organization. Our new AHB design is representative of our past, but looks to guide us into the future! With these exciting changes, our name and mission remain the same, “Connecting Community Through Arts, Humanities, And Cultural Programs.”

Our Values

WELCOMING • TRUSTWORTHY • INQUISITIVE • VIBRANT

Our Beliefs

• Art transforms lives.

• Nurturing the artist within reveals and expands creative potential.

• Exploration through the humanities creates knowledge, understanding and compassion.

• Collaborative relationships among the Island’s cultural organizations benefit the entire Bainbridge Island Community.

• An organization’s openness to listening and learning ensures a relevant, effective response.

• The arts and humanities cultivate a high quality of life, provide significant economic impact, and create a vibrant, attractive place to live, work and visit.

Cultural Services

We provide opportunities for artists to prosper, our youth to learn through art, our community to enjoy art in public spaces, and engage in collaborative events. We convene a Directors’ Forum and Cultural Reps of more than twenty local non-profit cultural organizations, to nurture connections, collaboration and active communication.  We also provide fiscal sponsorship to fledgling nonprofit organizations and grants to individual artists.

Year-round advocacy for cultural funding at the local, state and federal level, and publicity for cultural organizations to help sustain the creative economy of Bainbridge Island.

Board of Directors

Picture of Glynnis Cowdery

Glynnis Cowdery

President

Glynnis moved to Bainbridge Island in 2022 after living in Walnut Creek, CA for 28 years. She has an MA in Early Childhood Education and Applied Behavior Analysis and has worked in the field of early childhood education and special education for over 30 years. She is co-author of a text book, The Exceptional Child. Glynnis has been a long- time advocate for the arts and arts education. Her community involvement includes serving on PTOs, and PTAs,Walnut Creek Education Foundation, Walnut Creek Civic Pride Foundation and the Community Arts Foundation. She was a Walnut Creek Arts Commissioner for 10 years. Since moving to Bainbridge, Glynnis has continued her desire to be part of a community that is supportive of the arts and arts education. In addition to being on the AHB Board she is a member of the Public Art Committee.

Picture of Stephanie Reese

Stephanie Reese

Vice-President

Stephanie, a native of Seattle, attended Indiana University for opera performance and Cincinnati Conservatory for musical theater.  She performed in the German production of Miss Saigon, the Disney World Premier of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the King and I at the Palladium Theater in London’s West End. These solo endeavors launched her career and with her original music, versatile sound and fusion of opera, pop and theatrical music created a new genre and style that has brought her global recognition including  a solo concert at Carnegie Hall in NYC.  Stephanie joined the AHB Board of Directors in 2019.

Picture of Gordon Lee

Gordon Lee

Treasurer

Gordon is a former product manager from Silicon Valley turned stay at home parent, Gordon volunteered to help make the 1st annual Asian Arts & Heritage Festival a reality. Having experienced the comradely work with the AHB board and the joy expressed from underrepresented cultures on the island, he joined the board to help bring more cultural art events and programs for Bainbridge. Gordon is serving as the Treasurer for AHB.

Picture of Yasmin Guggenheimer

Yasmin Guggenheimer

Secretary

With a background in marketing and interior design, Yasmin has a passion for creativity and global culture. Having lived in Manila, New York, and now Bainbridge Island, her experiences around the world have shaped a deep appreciation for art in all its forms. Together with her architect husband and musical twin daughters, she draws inspiration from diverse landscapes and culture through travel.

Picture of Patty Bell

Patty Bell

Director

I spent my career working in public education in Southern California. Since I retired, my passion has been volunteering with many of the worthy nonprofits on Bainbridge Island. I connected with Arts & Humanities as a result of being the primary organizer of Bainbridge in Bloom. I have felt very fulfilled as a result of all of this volunteering.  I look forward to continuing to support Bainbridge Arts & Humanities, and all of the worthy things that this organization does.

Picture of Amanda Harper

Amanda Harper

Director

Amanda Harper is a designer, maker, and devoted explorer of art in all its forms. From her professional work in brand and experiential design to the crafts, design and the handmade has been the thread running through every chapter of her life. Today, Amanda works across natural dyes, botanical inks, earth pigments, and textile techniques, finding joy in the intersection of place, craft, and the handmade. While her day-to-day career is rooted in the digital realm, she is grounded by the tactile, one-of-a-kind, and creative practices that reflect culture and bring people together. She believes deeply in the power of nature, art, and community to offer meaningful connection in an ever-changing world. Professionally, Amanda brings more than 19 years of expertise leading brand-based projects as a Principal-in-Charge, Project Manager or Creative Director. Her work guides municipalities, educational institutions, and Fortune 500 companies through the creation of experiences rooted in authentic storytelling and sense of place. With a background in communications and graphic design, she approaches every project with a holistic lens to create memorable, contextually responsive experiences. Growing up on Bainbridge Island, she was surrounded by creativity, natural beauty, and a community that celebrated the arts. Returning as an adult has felt both grounding and energizing; the island’s creative spirit, its makers, and shared appreciation for craft continue to inspire her daily. A self-proclaimed serial hobbyist, she can often be found watercoloring, sewing, knitting, baking, or paging through one of her (many) craft books. Her personal motto, “Just keep going,” reflects her belief in perseverance, exploration, and embracing the creative path wherever it leads. Amanda is thrilled to bring her passion for the arts, community, and creative placemaking to the Arts & Humanities Bainbridge Board.

Picture of Rob LaRubbio

Rob LaRubbio

Director

Rob is a technology leader with over 25 years of experience spanning organizations from large tech companies like Amazon and Netscape to non-profits like the Grameen Foundation, along with several startups. He currently works as a software developer and technical leader at a healthcare technology company. Rob moved to Bainbridge Island in 2020 with his family and quickly found himself drawn into the island’s creative community. He has volunteered at the Asian Arts & Heritage Festival for several years, and his family’s involvement in island theater has given him a front-row seat to the impact arts have on our community. He believes our island and our lives are richer when we live among beautiful things — and that the arts are doubly enriching, providing an outlet for the artist and a gift to everyone who experiences their work. Rob lives on Bainbridge Island with his two teenage children. He brings his technology and leadership background to the AHB Board, with a particular interest in supporting the organization’s digital presence and website initiatives. He previously served on the board of the Nature Consortium from 2009 to 2014.

Picture of Misty Munro

Misty Munro

Director

Misty is a lifelong Washingtonian, who has travelled the world and ended up on Bainbridge one of the most beautiful places she has ever been. She has had the privelege of experiencing the rich cultures of Namibia, Poland, Czech Republic, Toronto, New York City, Memphis, and New Zealand as an English teacher. She spends her free time watching her 3 children enjoy the diverse variety of activities participating in theater, roller hockey, and high school clubs. Since joining the theater community on the island, inspired by her youngest, her love of song & dance has reignited. She continues teaching multilingual learners with her masters, national board certification, and most importantly undergraduate education from WSU. Go Cougs & Seattle Seawolves!

Picture of Beau Ross

Beau Ross

Director

Beau Ross is a marketing mind, creative producer, community builder, and human connector who lives on Bainbridge Island with his wife and three children. A longtime technology evangelist, Beau has spent 20+ years applying emerging tools and technology to bring big ideas to life through producing innovative digital campaigns, launching distruptive products, and quarterbacking narrative-driven campaigns. He’s the founder of BROSS.marketing and has led award-winning work for global brands like Nokia and Paramount, while also helping build and drive 3 local startups to positive exits, and now is focusing his skills towards helping cause based organizations define, realize, and amplify their vision.

Picture of Anne Smart

Anne Smart

Director

As a former Executive Director for AHB, I am a strong believer in the work AHB does and continue to help by role on the Board of Directors and participate on the Bainbridge Creative District team and the Public Art Committee.  I continue to pursue by interests in the arts, both visual and fiber, love to garden, raise chickens and bees when I’m not busy with my growing family.

Picture of Ron Stewart

Ron Stewart

Director

Ron Lives on Bainbridge Island with his wife Joanie and their two golden retrievers, Bentley & Macy. He loves living among the island’s kindred spirits who share an appreciation for nature, art and culture. His professional destiny was handed to him when his dad gave him his first camera at age ten. After attending art school he ran a successful commercial photography studio in Los Angeles with a client roster including Apple, Gucci and Nissan, to name a few. Ron also served on the Board of Directors of The Advertising Photographers of America where he rubbed elbows with luminaries and created workshops for up-and-coming photographers. In 1997 Ron made the jump to commercial director, when he was awarded his first commercial for Hilton Hotels. Since living on Bainbridge, Ron participated in a show at Bainbridge Arts & Crafts where he had over 27 prints on display. He’s also served on the Bainbridge Public Art Committee and was honored to be on the steering committee for the Bainbridge Creative District. Ron brings his love of the arts and talents in photography and media to AHB.

Picture of Alicia Van Thiel

Alicia Van Thiel

Director

Alicia is a painter and sculptor whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in London. She holds degrees in Art History, Fashion Design, and Education, and has taught and led community arts initiatives in New York City, Beijing, and Hong Kong, fostering cross-cultural exchange and dialogue through the arts.

Bainbridge Currents History

BainbridgeCurrents.com is a community cultural platform that builds on the decades-old legacy of Currents Magazine, the quarterly arts and culture review published by Arts & Humanities Bainbridge (AHB). Launched in June 2019, Currents is designed with islanders in mind and enhances our shared quality of life by bringing the rich world of island arts and culture to you with one click, on one site, and in real time.

The site is curated by Arts & Humanities Bainbridge, Bainbridge Island’s cultural hub. AHB bridges the arts and business communities by administering the Bainbridge Creative District (BCD).  The BCD and Currents highlight the island as a cultural destination, attract visitors, and deepen appreciation for our cultural offerings and heritage.

Currents is powered by Artsopolis, a community engagement platform tailored to showcasing
culturally vibrant communities. This platform now reaches over 50 communities across the U.S.

The Currents Editorial Board delivers the weekly content of Currents Online.

For more information, contact us at 206.842.7901 or

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