Eastsound Village on Orcas Island is in excellent company. Along with culturally vibrant towns such as Taos, N.M. and Stowe, Vt., Eastsound was chosen as one of “America’s Top Twelve Small-Town ArtPlaces,” a new annual initiative recognizing smaller communities where the arts are central to creating the kinds of places where people want to live, work, and visit.

The announcement was made by ArtPlace, a collaboration of foundations, banks, and agencies committed to accelerating creative placemaking – putting the arts at the heart of community revitalization.

ArtPlace had this to say about Eastsound: a lively community on Orcas Island, the largest of the scenic San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea, midway between Seattle and Vancouver. Located at the top of a fjord-like inlet, the village is home to galleries, boutiques, and eateries. The galleries display a mix of locally produced art including ceramics from the three pottery studios on the island. Eastsound also has a vibrant performing arts scene including a Chamber Music Festival held every August.

Other towns that made the list were: Taos, N.M., Stowe, Vt., Ketchum, Idaho, Vineyard Haven, Mass., Eureka Springs, Ark., Crested Butte, Colo., Lanesboro, Minn., Highlands, N.C., Saratoga, Wyo., Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Marfa, Texas.

The communities had the highest concentrations of arts non-profits, core arts-oriented businesses, and workers in creative occupations among smaller towns in the United States.