KAAHC Member Organizations

KAAHC offers administrative services, technical assistance, grant writing, office equipment, a ticket outlet, a communication center, and publishes a monthly newsletter to promote the activities of artists and arts organizations in the area. These organizations offer a variety of year-round participatory programs and entertainment. It is through these groups that everyone in the Ketchikan area has an opportunity to enjoy the arts as an audience member, participant, or professional artist.

First City Players

First City Players is Ketchikan’s not for profit community theater organization, entertaining area audiences with musicals, comedies, and fine drama over the past 46 years. Since 2002 FCP has been attracting record crowds to their events at KAYHI. FCP uses alternate venues such as the Plaza Mall, Cape Fox Lodge and the Ted Ferry Civic Center with great success. First City Players receives grant funding from the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the City of Ketchikan, First Bank, Wells Fargo, Ketchikan CHARR, the Pioneers of Alaska Auxiliary #7, First City Rotary, the Monthly Grind, American Legion #3, Holland America Cruise Lines, the Celebration Foundation, private and business donations, business members, and the membership of First City Players. In  June of 2009, First City Players and Ketchikan Theatre Ballet purchased the old Elks/Fireside building located on Main Street. The building will be the new home of both organizations, holding four ballet studios, a flexible performance space, offices and storage for both organizations.  The Performing Arts Center will be available for all performance groups in Ketchikan.

Friends of the Ketchikan Public Library

The Friends of the Ketchikan Public Library is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to the promotion of excellent library service in the greater Ketchikan area. As a group, they raise funds, provide volunteer services, and endeavor to raise community consciousness of the library’s importance. The Friends’ main fund-raiser is an annual book sale every fall. Money earned from this event goes directly to the local library to purchase needed equipment, extraordinary books, prizes for the summer reading program, and much more!  The Friends also sponsor the Blueberry Arts Festival “Trivia Contest.” The Ketchikan Public Library is in the process of indentifying and relocating to a new, larger home.

The Ketchikan Community Concert Band

KCCB began in 2002 in order to provide an on-going opportunity for adults to rehearse and perform together in a concert band setting, and to develop an active pool of adult instrumental musicians to draw from for special community needs, such as musicals, community choral events and civic occasions. In 2003 and 2005, the Rasmuson Foundation funded the acquisition of a tuba, baritone saxophone and other equipment for the ensemble. In the fall of 2006, the band became an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The KCCB maintained a membership of about fifty-five musicians in 2009. They rehearse weekly and present three concerts annually including their Spring “Lightweight” concert featuring Dave Kiffer and Jack Shay as announcers in PDQ Bach’s version of Beethoven’s Symphony #3 arranged for band.

Ketchikan Community Chorus

What a great year! Handel’s MESSIAH in December and “Steppin’ Out, ENCORE in the spring.  Handel was especially thrilling to classical music lovers as the chorus and friends from Wrangell and beyond presented almost the complete works with organ and piano accompaniment. Steppin’ Out ’10 will again feature a cabaret style with choreography by Clare Bennett.  New members are welcome to join us as we rehearse weekly at 7:00 on Tuesdays at the Presbyterian Church on Second Avenue.

Ketchikan Museum Department

The Ketchikan Museum Department continues to work with the KAAHC in promoting art and cultural activities in the Ketchikan area. 2008 exhibits at the Tongass Historical Museum included: Shaping Desire: works by Carla Potter, First City: The Life and Times of Ketchikan, and A Tradition of Service: The History of Ketchikan Public Utilities.

The Totem Heritage Center continues to offer a model Native Arts Studies Program dedicated to the continuation, promotion, and protection of Northwest Coast Native Arts. This program offers a Certificate of Merit program in Northwest Coast Carving, Northwest Coast Weaving, and Northwest Coast Regalia.

Ketchikan Theatre Ballet

The Ketchikan Theatre Ballet had another great year in 2009, continuing their formulas of three major performances a year: An Evening of Dance during the Festival of the North, the Spring Gala, and the Nutcracker. KTB also collaborats with KAAHC and First City Players in sponsoring the Gigglefeet Dance Festival.

Rainy Day Quilters

The Rainy Day Quilters goals are twofold: they meet monthly in order to foster the thriving quilting community, and sponsor local workshops and classes with nationally known instructors which are open to the public. They also do a great deal of community service projects.  Since 1992, the quilters have coordinated an annual show for the community of over 200 beautiful quilts, from contemporary to antique, during KAAHC’s Festival of the North. A quilt is raffled at this event, and during KAAHC’s Blueberry Arts Festival. They also participate in the Winter Arts Faire.