A San Juan County Arts Council is being proposed by the San Juan Island Community Foundation’s Critical Needs Task Force.

A public meeting about the proposed council is scheduled for Nov. 4, 5-8 p.m., in Waterworks Gallery in Friday Harbor.

Musician Teddy Deane said an arts council has the ability to unify arts information and can be a valuable economic generating resource.

“It has the capacity to sponsor concerts and events, offer workshops, coordinate art in public places, publish an arts calendar, support art in schools, support local artist projects, promote artist activities and many other potential services to the community. (It) can be a single voice for grant applications with both the state Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts,” Deane said.

The San Juan Islands have long attracted artists working in a wide variety of media. “An arts council would be able to support those working in all of the arts and assist in bringing their diverse and high quality work to the greater attention both of the local community, our many visitors and additional markets nationally,” Deane said.

Proponents say an arts council’s efforts could help ensure that the county’s arts industry is robust and fuels the potentially strong tourist economy.

Deane added, “San Juan County has the potential to become an even greater arts destination for both visitors and artists who want to become residents.”