San Juan Islands Museum of Art’s support for art programs in San Juan’s public school has not gone unnoticed.

In fact, IMA is the recipient of a Community Leadership Award for its ongoing and groundbreaking support of art in the public schools, an award the group received at a recent Honors Banquet sponsored by Washington Association of School Administrators and hosted by Skagit County Golf and Country in Skagit Valley.

Charlie Bodenstab and Peg Gerlock, of the IMA board of directors, accompanied by San Juan Island School District Superintendent Rick Thompson, attended the banquet to accept the award on behalf of the local art foundation.

The Museum of Art and San Juan Island School District established an art enrichment program for years ago at Friday Harbor Elementary School, bringing local artist into the classroom to lead hands-on art lessons. IMA has also provided funding for an art teacher at the middle school for the past several years, helping to bridge the gap between art instruction at the elementary and high school levels.

To establish the elementary school’s art enrichment program, IMA secured funding a variety of state and local sources, including the Washington State Arts Commission, local PTAs and the San Juan Island Community Foundation. The San Juan Island Public Schools Foundation helps to provide supplies and materials for the program as well.

In addition to it support for art education for students, IMA purchased the former San Juan EMS facility on Spring Street as a location for a new home about a year ago. The 5,000-square-foot building is undergoing extensive remodel and will feature no fewer than three separate galleries when it opens in early August.

For more on IMA and its programs, call 360 379-5050, or visit www.sjima.org.