Monarch Contemporary Arts Center and Sculpture Park

Mission:

To foster the creation and the presentation of sculpture by the emerging and the professional sculptor. Personal growth, experimentation and exploration are encouraged.

History:

Monarch Contemporary Art Center is an 80 acre public sculpture park and a center for the visual arts. Classes, workshops and international sculpting and ceramic symposia are held at the Center. When funds are available, scholarships and residency grants are offered to gifted young artists and professionals so that they may attend events or use the facilities at the Center.

In June of 1998, as part of the Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Monarch held its first Open House. Demonstrations in stone, metal, wood and ceramic working were given. Over three hundred people visited the grounds.

1998 saw the institution of the Visiting Artists Workshops and the Student Mentoring Project. Monarch hosted an International Stone Symposia for professional sculptors during the summer of 1998. Artists representing nine countries participated. The artwork created formed a large part of the permanent collection. Select pieces are currently offered for sale to help finance future programs.

In 1999, "Transcending Boundaries," a conference to celebrate contemporary women in the visual and performing arts was held.  Betsy Sabin was the keynote speaker.

The Center hosts an Annual Sculpture Exhibit on the grounds with new works added periodically throughout the year. Efforts are made to sell the work for the Artists. To assist the artist and to keep the art affordable a commission of only 25% is assessed by the Center on each sale. These funds will go into the general operating budget of Monarch.

The first phase of planning for Monarch in 1994 involved the formation of a Board of Directors and the formation of a non-profit charitable corporation.

The second phase involved the purchase of seventy acres of land in Thurston county, ten miles south of Olympia. Later, in 1997 an adjacent ten acres was purchased. This piece of property holds three buildings that have been converted to Office and Living Quarters, the Ceramic Studio and the Sculpting Studio. The Living Quarters can accommodate twelve artists.

The Center is involved in establishing a Donor Base to fund the programs, events, future construction and development of the acreage. Forty dollars a year will give the Donor a newsletter citing coming events and information of the Visiting Artist Workshops.

Monarch will be maintained as a non discriminatory, drug and smoke free environment with emphasis on preserving the natural landscape. Initially, the work for Monarch will be on a volunteer basis exclusively. When funds become available, staff will be hired. Volunteers will always be key elements in the operation of the Center.