Kirkland Mayor Joan McBride joked Monday night that everyone attending the Kirkland CACHET Award ceremony at Northwest University would leave with red hands from so much applause.

She was right, as the city’s arts, culture and heritage was on display and the abundance of talent was featured in eight distinct nominees.

But it was one of the city’s most community-oriented organizations, the Kirkland Arts Center (KAC), which came away the big winner.

“Well since we cheated I guess we won,” joked KAC Executive Director Chris Shainin in accepting the award. “If you want to join us in ‘teepeeing’ the Kirkland Performance Center (KPC) we are ready to go.”

Shainin was joined in accepting the award by one of the original founders of the KAC, Roberta Greer, and current KAC Board of Directors President Joan Wrench.

Both the KAC and KPC were selected as finalists for the award. But the jokes exhibited the unity of the arts community in Kirkland.

“This event really shows how much people care about the arts,” said Shainin.

And while the arts and culture component of the award is evident, the KAC also holds a special historical part of the city. The KAC, which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, is housed in the 120-year-old Peter Kirk Building.

“We are very appreciative of this recognition,” said Shainin following the ceremony. “The community spirit is just amazing.”

Shainin talked about the spirit and history of community within the Kirkland arts scene and the KAC in accepting the award.

He talked about how the arts community came together to purchase and preserve the historic Peter Kirk Building. The KAC was formed in 1962 as the Creative Arts scene and the KAC in accepting the award. He talked about how the arts community came together to purchase and preserve the historic Peter Kirk Building. The KAC was formed in 1962 as the Creative Arts League.

Nominations were pre-screened by the Kirkland Collaboration of Arts, Culture, Heritage, Education, and Theatre (CACHET) committee, which is made up of members of the Kirkland Cultural Council. Final award recipients were selected by the Kirkland Cultural Council and the mayor.

The CACHET Award was created by four sixth-graders at Peter Kirk Elementary. The KAC received a framed photo of which each student was asked to draw of Kirkland landmark, including many of Kirkland’s arts, culture and heritage destinations.

These have been combined into an image of Kirkland through the eyes of local children that CACHET Award recipients receive in a frame that includes a plaque to commemorate the event.

The evening was full of applause as McBride named off the eight nominees for the CACHET Award, including: Sue Heale of the Kirkland Children’s Music Studio, Kirkland Choral Society, KPC, KAC, Kirkland historian and author Matt McCauley, Kirkland Summer Concert Series organizer Karen Story, Studio East and the Kirkland Heritage Society.

The night’s applause began before McBride even took to the podium. Northwest University’s Creatio music program and recording studio was on display as the program’s Executive Director Jeff Lockhart received the CACHET Award, along with Park Place Books, last year.

The fruits of the Creatio experience were on display as the Ethan Bowe Band performed to kick off the event. The band is comprised of Northwest University students, including Ethan Bowe, a senior and music major.