Here's a partial list of artists, events, groups and institutions in our town. Also visit our Community Groups page for links to local groups!
ARTS ALLIANCE. The Arts Alliance is a nonprofit organization formed in the summer of 2006 aiming to "stimulate, enhance and develop the arts" in the Sandpoint area. The group is currently working with the City of Sandpoint to create a series of murals in an alley in downtown Sandpoint. Artists will work with youth to create historical scenes that will be showcased during the Bonner County Centennial in 2007. The Arts Alliance is working toward opening a permanent arts center by 2008, with facilities for classes, a gallery, performing arts and working artist studios. In the meantime, the Alliance often throws parties and other events, and holds classes at the Sandpont Charter School.
ART GALLERIES. Truly an arts town, Sandpoint has about two dozen galleries located in town and the surrounding area. In summer, up to 20 downtown venues become galleries in ArtWalk, a self-guided walking tour to browse revolving art exhibits, sponsored by Pend Oreille Arts Council (POAC). Also sponsored by POAC are satellite exhibits found in several public and private entities, with displays changing every six weeks. See POAC’s website to learn more. Another summertime art tour is the Artists’ Studio tour, a self-guided driving tour in the countryside, where art aficionados can go behind the scenes at working studios to see art in action. Look up ArtTourDrive.org to see details.
CINEMA. Bonner Mall Cinema is a six-plex theater inside the Bonner Mall on Highway 95 in Ponderay; phone (208) 263-7147. Also, the Panida Theater is a historic venue at 300 N. First; its Global Cinema Café features foreign and independent films; phone (208) 263-9191. You can see movie showtimes, descriptions and ratings at both venues on the Sandpoint Movies page.
FESTIVAL AT SANDPOINT. Visit the Festival's homepage to see the most recent news from one of the premier summer music concert series in the Northwest, held right on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint's Memorial Park. For two to three weeks each summer, the Festival brings to town a truly impressive array of music, from the Spokane Symphony to such popular acts as Willie Nelson, Natalie Cole, the Beach Boys, the Doobie Brothers, Nanci Griffith and many others. For ticket or performance information, call 208-265-4554.
LOST IN THE '50s. Each May '50s rock stars entertain enthusiastic crowds at the dance concerts held both Friday and Saturday nights during this unique Sandpoint holiday weekend. Also, people pack the streets for the famous car show and parade, featuring tons of classics right downtown.
PANIDA THEATER. Since being restored several years ago, the Panida has become a vibrant center for the performing arts. Check out its historic architecture at 300 N. First, and keep an eye on our events calendar for shows and movie line-up. Phone 208-263-9191.
PEND OREILLE ARTS COUNCIL. No group in Sandpoint cultivates the arts like Pend Oreille Arts Council, a non-profit community groups that stages many arts events throughout the year, including ArtWalk in summer, the annual Arts & Crafts Fair at City Beach in August, the POAC Performance Series in winter, sponsorship of visiting artists and much more. Watch the events calendar for upcoming POAC events. To learn more about POAC, to join the group or to volunteer, call 208-263-6139.
OPEN MICS. Local Sandpoint artists provide live performance art ranging from story telling to music and more at open mic sessions held regularly at Downtown Crossing (265-5080) and Cafe Bodega inside Foster's Crossing Antiques (263-5911). Other occasional venues for open mics include Synergy, Taps at Schweitzer, Wine Sellers by the Lake and others. See open mics currently scheduled on the Sandpoint Events page.
LITERATURE. Yes, writers live here too. You can browse the offerings by many locally published authors at the Sandpoint General Store. Sample works from Don Kardong, Thomas Lacy, Marianne Love, Dennis Nicholls, Dr. John Osborn, Dr. Paul Quinnett, John Sater and others. Sandpoint is also home to a pair of independent small publishing houses. Keokee Publishing publishes regional nonfiction books, including history, natural history and guidebooks, under its imprint of Keokee Books. Also, the nonprofit independent press, Lost Horse Press publishes poetry and works of high literary merit, as well as provides educational and cultural outreach.
