Master of arts

It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly who or what first helped bring arts awareness to the community — Ros Bird or the arts council.

It’s simple, though, to figure out which is the first to leave.

Bird, a founding member of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council and the nonprofit’s first executive director, is retiring after 17 years of involvement.

“I feel ready to have more flexible time, some free time, time to travel and do projects that have fallen by the wayside,” said Bird. “I want to do some more creative things that I used to do… I’m not a painter, but who knows what will happen?”

A 30-year resident of Lake Forest Park, Bird has considered retiring for the past few years, but hadn’t made the decision until recently. Bird’s successor is Nancy Frey, who was previously executive director for the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council.

“I wanted to be sure that the organization was stable,” said Bird. “The board is dedicated, so I felt the time was right.”

The arts council formed in 1989 by 19 people who wanted to encourage arts in the community. The arts council formed before the city of Shoreline incorporated and is now held up as a model throughout the county, said Bird.

Founding members of the nonprofit organization were involved in the arts in some capacity. At the time of the art council’s inception, Bird was involved in arts education primarily through a Parent Teacher Association in the Shoreline School District.

Before becoming executive director, Bird taught first grade for six years and “did a lot of art with students.” When the arts council was first formed, Bird was in graduate school earning her master’s degree in education. She subsequently did some substitute teaching in the Shoreline School District for about four years.

“I decided when I finished that the arts council was the direction I wanted to go,” Bird said.

For the first six years after the arts council formed, Bird was board president. At the time, there was no staff.

“But clearly it was becoming a full-time job,” said Bird, “and we didn’t want it to all disappear.”

Bird was hired as the art council’s first executive director in 1996, a full-time position she’s held for 11 years. Three part-time people also work for the arts council, which has an office at Shoreline Conference Center.

The executive director has financial responsibilities for overseeing the budget, staff and programs, as well as fund development.

Bird is responsible for fund development through grant writing, donations and sponsorships. The nonprofit organization is largely funded by the cities, Washington State Arts Commission and 4Culture, which is King County’s cultural services agency.

The objective of the arts council is to enhance the lives of community members through arts programs and events, said Bird. Art helps build community by bringing people together and also provides a way for people of diverse backgrounds to share and celebrate culture, she said.

“It provides a means of expression,” said Bird. “Everyone is stressed in today’s world and the arts provide an outlet.”

Bird’s interest in the arts can be traced back to her childhood when she learned to play the piano and violin and “dabbled in creative things.”

The arts council has grown over the years and really “established a voice,” in the community, Bird said. The arts council is always looking at ways to enhance, monitor and adjust programs to meet the needs of the community, she said, and to “provide things that will stretch the imagination.”

The 14-member arts council board hires an executive director to take care of day-to-day management of the council, said board president Susan Will. The board meets monthly.

“The arts council wouldn’t be what it is without her dedication and we wouldn’t have gotten so far,” Will said. “But we are happy for her, that she will have some time for herself finally; the goal is to build upon the legacy she’s left us.”

Arts Council board treasurer, Gloria Bryce, said she has been impressed with the quality of the programs that Bird brings to the community, especially in regard to the Artists-in-Residence program at areas schools. Bird also is conscientious of variety and brings an assortment of art activities to the community, Bryce said.

“It’s sad to see her go, but sometimes change brings with it opportunities,” said Bryce. “The arts council is really a sound organization and I think it will not have a problem at all continuing.

Attendance at events is continually increasing, said Bryce, who expects that Bird will still stay involved in community activities.

“I expect she will show up at Concerts in the Parks; she loves those and loves seeing the community out,” said Bryce.

Bird will remain executive director until mid-January, and will help her successor become acclimated. Frey’s first day on the job is Jan. 16.

“I’ve been energized by all the creative people I’ve met over the last 17 years,” said Bird, who is married with two grown children. “It’s been a wonderful adventure; I’ll be out and about.”