Following a unanimous vote by the ArtsWA Board of Commissioners on February 4, Soap Lake is now Washington’s newest Certified Creative District. It becomes the twentieth community statewide to earn this coveted designation, which spotlights and supports Washington’s hubs of innovation and creativity.

Celebrated for the mineral-rich waters that give the town its name, Soap Lake is home to over 1,700 residents. Masquers Theater, one of the oldest community theaters in Washington State, is located in the center of the newly certified Creative District.

The Soap Lake Creative District planning team shared a statement about their certification:

Creative District certification presents a significant opportunity for Soap Lake and will provide a structured framework for enhancing this community’s reputation while strengthening our best attributes. This region is a geological wonder with an exceptional ability to surprise and inspire, and its unique history and reputation as a healing destination has long attracted creative, theatrical, and distinctive individuals to explore and settle within this “Cure for the Ordinary.” The quirky coalition of artists, community organizations, and business owners who have been collaboratively planning for this certification are thrilled to start the development of our Creative District.

.