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Our History of the Alaska Fine Arts Academy:
It is impossible to talk about the beginnings of the Alaska Fine Arts Academy without also talking about the lives of
its two founders, Art and Eleanor Braendel. In 1947, shortly after graduating from Cornell University, Art and Eleanor moved
to Alaska and homesteaded part of what is now Eagle River. Even then, in the days of rough, or impassable roads, Art and Eleanor
were heavily involved in music instruction and performance. This can be best seen through their long-standing involvement
with the Anchorage Symphony. In addition to being involved in the very first beginnings of the symphony, Art has played in
each of the past 58 seasons and Eleanor all except for a year absence on occasion for family responsibilities.
It was not until 1984, however, that Art and Eleanor formally established a center for the instruction of music and other
art forms. They originally called it the Eagle River Fine Arts Academy and only later (in the 1990's) was the name was changed
to the Alaska Fine Arts Academy. From the very beginnings the Academy intended to teach more than just music. The Academy
envisioned itself as a community arts center where music, visual, and moving arts would be available to everyone in the community,
both as participants and as patrons. The fact that the Academy is still an important part of the Eagle River community 20
years later attests to the hard work and dedication of both the Braendels and others in the Eagle River, Anchorage, and Palmer/Wasilla
communities.
Stated Objectives:
The purposes for which the non-profit organization is for are:
- To establish and maintain, in the Eagle River/Chugiak community, a center for the teaching for the fine arts, including
but not limited to music, dance, drama, painting, drawing, sculpture, and other visual arts.
- To provide at such center opportunities for community experience of the fine arts, including but not limited to attendance
at dramatic productions, musical performances, and exhibitions of paintings, drawings, sculpture, and other visual arts.
- To own and operate any facilities incident to the carrying out of these objectives under the provisions of the Alaska
laws governing non-profit organizations.
Sponsors:
The Alaska Fine Arts Academy is grateful to its many supporters, including:
Rasmuson Foundation
Municipality of Anchorage Arts Council
Anchorage Arts Council Foundation
Computer Medics of
Alaska
My Favorite Preschool
Eagle River Parks and Recreation
Exxon Inc.
ConocoPhillips Inc.
Chugiak Area Business
Association
American Legion
Spenard Builders
and to the many individual community volunteers!!
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