The San Juan County Arts Council will explore the impact of art on the islands economy in a series of free workshops on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan islands, beginning in the month of March.

Funded by a state Arts Commission grant, the workshops feature use of the “Creative Vitality Index” data collection system as a means to better understand economies of creativity. The Arts Council is partnering with San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau on this pilot project.

“We hope to both benchmark the county’s creative economy and define its components and critical relationships,” Dennis Ryan of the Arts Council said.

Workshops: March 19, Outlook Inn, Orcas, 10 a.m. to noon; March 20, Earthbox Orca Room, Friday Harbor, 1-3 p.m.; March 21, Lopez Library, 10 a.m. to noon (light refreshments available).

Studies show that the arts play a significant role in a local economy and its vitality, state Arts Commission Executive Director Kris Tucker said.

“This project helps us document at the local level just how important the arts are to community well-being, Tucker said.

For more about CVI: http://www.westaf.org/publications_and_research/cvi.