The Girdwood Fine Arts Camp was established in 1986 by artists Annie Olson and Tommy “T.Sal.” O’Malley to give Girdwood youth something to do at the end of summer. Encouraged by full enrollment, the Camp continued to grow adding artists instructors and gradually more sessions to increase participation by more children and teens. Arts Camp offered workshops for adults as well.
Arts Camp was originally held in a log cabin in Old Girdwood, In 1995 Annie’s friends refurbished the laundromat in Girdwood and Camp was held there for several years. Glacier City Hall as well as Girdwood’s old library building were used for the Camp. For the last 10 years the Camp has been held at the Challenge Alaska Building.
The Girdwood Fine Arts Camp is supported by parents of its students, The Alaska State Council on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Municipality of Anchorage Arts Commission, Girdwood Parks and Recreation, The Girdwood Forest Fair Committee, The Girdwood Visual Arts Center, Girdwood’s Service organizations, and many individual patrons.