Arts and Culture

(Juneau Empire File)

Community calendar of upcoming events

This is a calendar updated daily of upcoming local events during the coming days provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, and other contributors.… Continue reading

 

Axel Baumann films and Max Osadchenko captures sounds of Juneau Alaska Music Matters students performing a “Gratitude” concert at the Sealaska Heritage Institute Clan House on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The event was a wrapup performance after the film crew followed JAMM participants for two weeks as part of a feature-length documentary. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Filmmakers seek to share cultural lessons of Juneau Alaska Music Matters with a wider audience

Crew spends two weeks with students after following similar program in Texas for full-length documentary.

 

The Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The center, as well as the adjacent Centennial Hall, are operated by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JAHC gave up DEI under Trump’s threats, then lost its board chair and executive director. What’s ahead?

Arts nonprofit “trying to respond to other concerns in the community and learning from this,” interim chair says.

 

Phil Huebschen is departing as executive director of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council on May 14. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council photo)

Phil Huebschen stepping down after two years as head of Juneau Arts and Humanities Council

No reason stated for departure, which comes after JAHC faces DEI and funding pressure from Trump.

Phil Huebschen is departing as executive director of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council on May 14. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council photo)
Zuill Bailey, artistic director for the Juneau Jazz and Classics festival, performs on cello during the Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday. JJAC is among the organizations receiving a termination notice Friday of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Local arts and culture programs in crosshairs of latest cuts by Trump administration

Perseverance Theatre, music programs, public library’s statewide remote services hit by fund cancellations.

Zuill Bailey, artistic director for the Juneau Jazz and Classics festival, performs on cello during the Juneau Maritime Festival on Saturday. JJAC is among the organizations receiving a termination notice Friday of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Works by artist Alec Dye will be featured at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center’s gallery as part of First Friday in May. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in May

A museum’s interactive exhibition featuring the works of a range of local performing artists, classical music performances at two venues, and a dance party in… Continue reading

Works by artist Alec Dye will be featured at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center’s gallery as part of First Friday in May. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
Flags fly outside the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, shortly before the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s 50-year anniversary celebration the same week. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Arts and Humanities Council bans DEI on ‘public facing documents’ due to funding threat

Executive director: No events cancelled, “racial equity” and other deleted website content being rewritten.

Flags fly outside the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, shortly before the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s 50-year anniversary celebration the same week. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Art by Christine Kleinhenz of Tide Watcher will be featured at The Bear’s Lair as part of First Friday in April. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council photo)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in April

A poster tribute leading up to the 50th Alaska Folk Festival and composing spontaneous stories of 55 words or less are among the activities during… Continue reading

Art by Christine Kleinhenz of Tide Watcher will be featured at The Bear’s Lair as part of First Friday in April. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council photo)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo A 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the atrium of the State Office Building is played by Christopher Nordwall on May 30, 2023, as he and Michael Ruppert work on restoring it to a condition suitable for public performances. The two tuners were only able to work on the organ during hours when the building was officially closed.

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in March

Performance and presentation on historic SOB organ, community exhibit at city museum among events.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo A 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the atrium of the State Office Building is played by Christopher Nordwall on May 30, 2023, as he and Michael Ruppert work on restoring it to a condition suitable for public performances. The two tuners were only able to work on the organ during hours when the building was officially closed.
Blank posts are seen where the two totem poles once stood at the Fred Meyer main entrance on Feb. 7, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fred Meyer totem poles get a second chance at life

Tlingit master carver says they will be refurbished with tribal youth and repurposed.

Blank posts are seen where the two totem poles once stood at the Fred Meyer main entrance on Feb. 7, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A photo by Nicole Steger that’s part of her exhibit at the Juneau Artists Gallery is among the events featured during First Friday in February. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in February

First Friday for the shortest month of 2025 features performances from the second annual Juneau Jazz Fest, a trio of exhibitions at the Alaska State… Continue reading

A photo by Nicole Steger that’s part of her exhibit at the Juneau Artists Gallery is among the events featured during First Friday in February. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
Hosts and guests mingle at a fundraising brunch on behalf of the Alaska Cultural Trust at the Rie Muñoz Gallery on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Practicing the art of of seeking funds from lawmakers during a lean year at the Alaska State Capitol

Alaska Cultural Trust seeks $733,000 — $1 per resident — for grants it hopes to start awarding this fall.

Hosts and guests mingle at a fundraising brunch on behalf of the Alaska Cultural Trust at the Rie Muñoz Gallery on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-based qayaq (kayak) maker Lou Logan works on his exhibit that will be at the Alaska State Museum during First Friday in January. (Photo provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in January

A trio of ongoing exhibitions at the Alaska State Museum, an exhibit at Centennial Hall by Juneau Arts and Humanities Council members, and a Juneau… Continue reading

Juneau-based qayaq (kayak) maker Lou Logan works on his exhibit that will be at the Alaska State Museum during First Friday in January. (Photo provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
Jeff Campbell moves a Santa figurine into the front yard of his annual Christmas-themed holiday house on West 11th Street in the downtown neighborhood known as The Flats on Thursday, Nov. 28. Campbell begins the decorating after removing Halloween fare and usually turns on the lights in December. Campbell has created this masterpiece annually for over 30 years. Besides Santas, the display includes candy canes, drummer boys, nativity scenes, reindeer and Disney and Winnie the Pooh characters and some of his own creations. He also has thousands of lights and speakers wired to play Christmas music and his electricity bill doubles over the display’s longevity. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

An icebreaker, a world-premiere play, a new ski season and holiday events galore arriving at week’s end

Gallery Walk, landmark anniversary for “Nutcracker,” Mexican holy feast day among seasonal celebrations.

Jeff Campbell moves a Santa figurine into the front yard of his annual Christmas-themed holiday house on West 11th Street in the downtown neighborhood known as The Flats on Thursday, Nov. 28. Campbell begins the decorating after removing Halloween fare and usually turns on the lights in December. Campbell has created this masterpiece annually for over 30 years. Besides Santas, the display includes candy canes, drummer boys, nativity scenes, reindeer and Disney and Winnie the Pooh characters and some of his own creations. He also has thousands of lights and speakers wired to play Christmas music and his electricity bill doubles over the display’s longevity. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A profile of a South African model is seen on the surface of Sandy Beach on Nov 18. (Photo by Elliot Welch shared by Juneau Parks and Recreation)

So…who is that woman that’s been stretched out on Sandy Beach all month?

Artist Blake Byers uses nearby rocks to depict South African model as part of “exhibit” of people on shores.

A profile of a South African model is seen on the surface of Sandy Beach on Nov 18. (Photo by Elliot Welch shared by Juneau Parks and Recreation)
A bear/landscape painting is among the works by Liyuan (Sunny) Zhang that will be exhibited at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum as part of First Friday in November. (Photo provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in November

The penultimate First Friday of 2024 features a variety of art and photography exhibits highlighting Alaska’s nature, plus an annual napkin design contest where winners… Continue reading

A bear/landscape painting is among the works by Liyuan (Sunny) Zhang that will be exhibited at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum as part of First Friday in November. (Photo provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
The Alaska State Museum is seen in the fall sun on Wednesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Grant increases museum access for Alaska Native artists and culture bearers

The Access to Alaska Native Collections grant is part of a broader movement.

The Alaska State Museum is seen in the fall sun on Wednesday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Ceramics by Uliana from BeWilder Creative will be featured at The Pottery Jungle during First Friday in October. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in October

Cardboard heads, a new Pride robe and a sendoff for retiring local bead artist among activities.

Ceramics by Uliana from BeWilder Creative will be featured at The Pottery Jungle during First Friday in October. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
A painting by Marty Sharp, whose works will be exhibited at the Juneau Artists Gallery as part of First Friday in September. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in September

Art exhibits, artists’ market, singer from Iceland and opening of new Perseverance play scheduled.

A painting by Marty Sharp, whose works will be exhibited at the Juneau Artists Gallery as part of First Friday in September. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
A painting by Juneau artist Timi Johnson’s that’s part of his “Fugitive” exhibit that will be on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center during First Friday in August. (Image courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in August

A wide range of artists from traditional Tlingit to self-taught modern, featuring creations ranging from ballpoint pen images to ceramics, along with a book talk… Continue reading

A painting by Juneau artist Timi Johnson’s that’s part of his “Fugitive” exhibit that will be on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center during First Friday in August. (Image courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)