Thank you for reviewing Fairbanks Arts Association’s application for Biennial Operating Support!
Below are a selection of Fairbanks Arts’ newsletters from FY20, which offer a snapshot of the highlights and challenges of our most recently completed fiscal year. In them are shown our programs, where we placed our efforts, our adaptability as an organization, our philosophy, and examples of how we communicate with our membership. Also included two online exhibition websites we created during the first few months of COVID-19.
October 23, 2019 Newsletter: Message following reinstatement of ASCA
November 17, 2019 Director’s Message regarding the Centennial Center’s sudden closure
December 28, 2019: End of Year Support and Wandering Bear Grand Opening.
February 10, 2020 Visual F.A.N. (Fairbanks Arts News) – along with redesigning our regular newsletter, we began monthly program-specific updates called F.A.N.s for Visual, Literary, Performing, and Arts Education (these were promptly interrupted by COVID-19 the following month). They allowed us to slim down our regular newsletter, while highlighting more of our affiliate activities, resources, and opportunities in the individual F.A.N. e-blasts.
February 18, 2020 Literary F.A.N. (our first one!)
February 22, 2020 Performing F.A.N. (our first one!)
March 18, 2020 Newsletter: Director’s response to COVID-19 and compilation of creative resources
April 23, 2020 Newsletter: Update from Fairbanks Arts amidst closure
The Up With Art website was created in response to our annual K-12 student exhibition being closed ten days after its opening due to COVID-19
2020 Up With Art Website
The RESILIENCE website was made when we transitioned what was meant to be our spring juried show open to Interior Alaskan artists to a statewide, open-entry show in response to the pandemic.
2020 RESILIENCE exhibition (statewide, open-entry)
Visual Arts
Monthly Exhibits in Fairbanks Arts’ Bear Gallery annually feature solo, group, and curated shows from Alaskan artists. It also features traveling museum exhibits, the annual FNSB student art show, and Fairbanks Arts’ spring and fall juried shows open to Interior Alaska Artists. Year-round, the Bear Gallery gift shop featured hundreds of Alaskan artists, artisans, and authors. During FY20, Fairbanks Arts experienced displacement from our gallery (discussed in FY20 final report) and found a home in a temporary space, the Wandering Bear Gallery, until we closed due to COVID-19. During FY20, three exhibitions took place online due to COVID-19.






Literary Arts
Fairbanks Arts traditionally offers free monthly readings in the Bear Gallery featuring local and visiting authors of various genres. The Bear Gallery gift shop is home to over 100 publications by Alaskan authors and is adding more all the time.
Performing Arts
Gazebo Nights, a free nightly performance series in June, July, and August featured a diversity of performances for visitors to Pioneer Park including jazz piano, storytelling, fiddle music, folk music, and more.
The Totally Impromptu Performance Series (T.I.P.S.) is a summertime busking program in Pioneer Park.
Arts in Education
Fairbanks Arts’ long-standing Artists-in-Schools residency program and Fairbanks Arts and Cultural Education (FACE) school performances offer quality arts education and experiences to the students of Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.
Talented young artists within FNSBSD showcase their skills during the annual Up With Art student show that takes place each March during National Arts Education Month.
Artists in Schools Program:


Here are some other examples of Fairbanks Arts Events! (Pre-FY20)




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