Our Mission
Is to create space and opportunities to learn and share, fostering growth in creative expression.
Our Vision
We see the future of the Oak Harbor area as a thriving wholistic arts district. Creative people, artistic spaces and year-round opportunities promote discovery, economic growth and the well-being of our community.
Our Value Proposition
Oak Harbor Creative Arts Foundation is building an environment that ensures access to the arts, while partnering and collaborating with our community.
Board Members
Cynthia Mason - President
Cynthia Mason serves as the President of the Oak Harbor Creative Arts Foundation, where she is leading two key initiatives: the establishment of a Makers Space and the construction of a Performing Arts & Events Center in Oak Harbor. Raised in Petaluma, California, Cynthia relocated to Washington after high school and then found
herself in New York City, with her husband, Larry Mason, living in lower-Manhattan for seven years. The couple returned to Whidbey Island in 1993.
Cynthia has a strong professional background in banking and finance, with experience at several notable institutions, including roles located in Washington and New York City. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to community service, starting with volunteering for the Toddler’s Learning Center and serving on the founding board of the Medical Safety Net of North Whidbey. Cynthia has also held leadership positions in various organizations, including the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, currently serves on the Oak Harbor Arts Commission, the Oak Harbor Music Festival, and the Oak Harbor Creative Arts Foundation.
In 2021, Cynthia participated in the Leadership Whidbey program through Skagit Valley College, further honing her leadership skills and deepening her connection to the community Cynthia recently retired from Edward Jones Investments, where she worked as an assistant. Alongside her husband, they have owned and operated Island Trollers since 1996.
Cynthia's dedication to enriching Whidbey Island's cultural landscape is evident through her leadership of these initiatives and her ongoing service to the community.
Larry Mason - Vice President
Lisa Sanchez - Secretary
Cathy Rockwell - Treasurer
Samantha Horobin
Tiffany Scribner - Director
Tiffany received her Master's of Fine Arts in Design & Painting for Theatre from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and a Bachelor of Arts from Coastal Carolina University. She is the artist behind The Wild Blue Bear creating multimedia paintings, murals, clothing and jewelry. She is currently working on a mascot
project with the City of Oak Harbor. Tiffany is passionate about people, beauty and compassion. Authentic creativity, perceptive connection and transcendent love are at the heart of who she is and what she does.
Lynn Goebel - Director
Lynn, a retired educator and long-time resident of Oak Harbor, is deeply passionate about serving her community and dedicated to making Oak Harbor a vibrant place for everyone. She and her husband, Greg, have supported numerous local organizations aimed at making a difference in the community. Lynn is always eager to volunteer her time for worthy projects.
She played a pivotal role in rallying community volunteers for the Oak Harbor Music Festival, where she currently serves as the governance chair. Lynn is in her second term on the Oak Harbor School Board and is committed to ensuring that our schools provide an outstanding education for our students. Together with Greg, she believes that Oak Harbor is an exceptional place to call home and is wholeheartedly devoted to uplifting her community.
Greg Goebel - Director
Meet Greg, a FedEx pilot and long-time resident of Oak Harbor. He is not only a skilled pilot but also a talented woodworker who enjoys giving back to the community. Over the years, Greg has generously used his skills to support various local fundraisers. He served as the team captain for the playground project at Fort Nugent and has led a group of volunteers for North Whidbey Hearts and Hammers, an organization that assists local homeowners with home improvement projects. Together with his wife, Lynn, Greg is dedicated to making Oak Harbor a wonderful place to live.
Anna Edwards - Director
Anna’s journey as a violinist, educator, and symphony conductor has shaped her deep commitment to fostering musical diversity at the highest levels. She is passionate about bringing the works of underrepresented composers to the concert stage and creating meaningful opportunities for musicians of all backgrounds.
Anna divides her time between conducting in the Pacific Northwest, guest conducting and teaching across the country, and mentoring young musicians through collaboration with professional artists. She currently serves as Music Director of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, Saratoga Orchestra and Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute, and she is also a member of the Everything Conducting team. She believes Oak Harbor is an amazing place to live and believes the arts make our communities stronger, healthier, and more vibrant.
Why the Arts Matter
Simply put, the arts are essential to the proper functioning of our society. The arts continue to demonstrate their ability to provide categorical evidence of their impact on social issues that concern virtually every facet of American society. The arts are especially important for our children.
The Washington State Arts & Culture sector represents
8.3% of GDP
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the arts and culture sector contributes $41 billion to Washington’s economy, representing 8.3% of the state’s GDP—a larger share than some other industries in the state.
17,642 businesses & 69,844 employees
are involved in the creation or distribution of the arts in Washington State.
In Washington, 17,642 Arts-Related Businesses employ 69,844 people.
In King County, 8,108 Arts-Related Businesses employ 34,536 people.
In Pierce County, 1,408 Arts-Related Businesses employ 4,317 people.
In Spokane County, 1,046 Arts-Related Businesses employ 6,172 people.
Non-profit Art is a
$35.6 Billion
driver of just one of Washington’s local economies.
In 2015, Washington’s arts and culture sector employed thousands of FTE jobs and generated millions of dollars in economic activity. Nonprofit arts groups helped cultivate that activity.
In Tacoma, for example, nonprofit arts groups generated $74.6 million in economic activity. Audiences of 2.7 million people added another $62.6 million in related spending for a total of $137.2 million for the city in 2015, and this generated $14.0 million in local and state government revenues and 3,656 FTE jobs.