Rick Epting Foundation

Geoffrey Castle playing violin — Geoffrey Castle's All Ages FREE Celtic Christmas Celebration is back, coming Sunday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 pm, bringing the Christmas spirit to Anacortes at a new location: Brodniak Hall, at Anacortes High School

Man holding a luminary decorated with an orca — This year Salish Sea School's Winter Solstice walk will be held on Dec. 21. Meet at the cabanas by the boat launch in Washington Park at 4:15 p.m.

Promotional flyer for Illuminght event — Mark your calendar now to participate in what's become a classic annual Skagit event!

Six photos of past events, along with text reading Click here to see some of the many ways REFA has helped through the years to improve the Skagit area through the arts. — Skagit groups and people among the many supported by REFA.

Summer Blast and fundraising auction - Aug. 17, 2024

Congratulations on 30 years: Rick Star and Alan Rhodes Anacortes Brewery and 10 years of supporting REFA

4th of July fundraising event for LaConner School District music and arts programs – 9 years

Salish Sea School students — Salish Sea School sponsorship – 3 years

Heart of Anacortes Summer Concert Series fundraising events

Anacortes Music Project (AMP) Jumpin' Jazz Night 2024 event sponsorship

Illuminight Winter Walk sponsorship – 10 years

Procession of the Species sponsorship – 2 years

2014 Grant - Native American YMCA Art Camp

THANKS to community supporters our grant program has provided over $60,000 in grants to local artists, art and music events, and arts organizations over the last 15 years and we’ve given out 15 scholarships to local high school students who are now enrolled in collegate arts programs.

Please check out our Helping The Arts page to see what grants we’ve provided and the Events page to view past events.

In 2006, friends of the late Rick Epting formed the Rick Epting Foundation for the Arts and continued his legacy of supporting the Arts in Skagit County with a showcase of local talent and humor. Our mission is to help raise money that is needed for Organizations, Scholarships, and other non-profit groups, to promote and encourage live performance shows and to provide ongoing support for local artists in the community.

Rick Epting was one of the founding members of both the Lincoln Theatre Center Foundation, the Skagit Performing Arts Council (SPAC), and appointed by the Governor to serve on the Washington State Arts Commission. He was also instrumental in the restoration campaign for the Lincoln Theatre and the planning and organization for McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon. Rick was a proud supporter of Arts groups and organizations in Skagit County until his untimely death in August 2005.