In January 1948, a news item in the Review invited persons interested in forming an Island arts and crafts organization for adults to a meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Hodges.

The meeting struck a chord and led to others. By the end of the first year, classes were being offered in homes, studios, and schoolrooms, and would continue through the years. Offerings reflected popular interests of the time and included drawing, painting, wood carving, photography, china painting, lampshade making, ceramics, macramé, mosaics, sand casting, doll making, leather crafting, jewelry, metal craft, silk screening, creative writing, rug making, and lectures on many of these topics.

In 1952, the ambitious group of volunteers opened a retail space in the old Review Building located where the ferry holding area is now. Soon part of the space became a gallery, called Bainbridge Arts & Crafts, which had its first children’s art exhibit in 1954—the same year it was incorporated as a nonprofit organization.