The Department of Safety

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Cascadia Contemporary

VIEWING HOURS:

Cascadia Contemporary at Department of Safety is open to the public for viewing on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 4pm, as well as during all Department of Safety hosted events. Alternatively, appointments for viewing can be arranged by phoning (360) 293-8361.

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ABOUT THE SPACE:

Department of Safety is unique. It was founded as an artist-run space in 2002. It exists in a non-urban location: Anacortes is a small, island town. Department of Safety has no business model. Artists live upstairs. A different Artist in Residence moves in every three months to work on new projects. Bi-monthly music and performances happen in the old fire engine garage. Some studio spaces are available to local artists. We are highly invested in working with the community of Fildalgo Island.

However, Department of Safety is also more.

For more than six years now Department of Safety has been the Skagit Valley’s only consistent artist-run exhibition space. Young, emerging artists from all over the world have exhibited work in the gallery. Moreover, hundreds of different site-specific pieces have existed throughout the building. It is a priority of Cascadia Contemporary at Department of Safety that we continue to incubate the contemporary arts in this unique location.

Truth be told, it is questionable whether or not a good-sized audience exists for our work. Such is the nature of our challenge.

Everything about Department of Safety is culturally demanding. Department of Safety’s exhibition, project and gallery space — Cascadia Contemporary — is just where it is often the most apparent.

Please come and view our current exhibition.