2021 Annual Report
Dearest friends, neighbors, artists and partners,
Together we have faced a year defined by the immense pressures caused by pandemic uncertainty, climate change, political polarization, and the harms caused by colonial and racist systems. And together – by caring for each other, by listening and learning, by adapting and responding – we work to meet those challenges.
Bunnell strived to be a steady, safe and vibrant place to visit in-person or connect online throughout the year. Pandemic adaptations like Inspiration & Adaptation artist talks, Bunnell Arts by Air KBBI concerts, and exhibit innovations used technology to create greater accessibility. But we also remained a very human operation. Art is made by artists, and an organization is made of a board, a staff, and engaged individuals. This year we worked to raise standards for equitable artist compensation, to accomodate healthy work/life balances for our committed and caring staff, to follow the collective wisdom of our Board of Directors and Advisory Board, and to serve our community, from here in Homer, to across Alaska and far beyond.
This past year has seen Bunnell continue to partner with other organizations like the Ninilchik Village Tribe, the City of Homer, Homer Drawdown, the Pratt Museum, and generous funding organizations on far-reaching projects like Tuyanitun: Tuggeht and Art for Peat that generate profound reflection and meaningful change. Sometimes our work has felt wildly successful. Sometimes we “fail forward” and realize we have more to learn. Artists help see the way the world has been, and also how the world might be. Art can communicate the infinite range of our experiences, from grief to joy. It will be one of the ways we will move beyond surviving to thriving.
We reflect on the year past so that we can meet the year ahead and create a culture of reciprocity that cares for us all. Whether in the gallery, online, or elsewhere, we look forward to seeing you!
Adele Person, Executive Director
