In 1958, a group of local thespians created Port City Players, a theater troupe that primarily performed locally but grew to travel and perform elsewhere, occasionally even abroad.

In 1995, a local coffee shop owner had dreams of expanding the town talent show, and the Seward Music & Arts Festival was born. Attendance at this volunteer-run event has increased each year and now often draws more than 3,000 people (currently on hiatus).

In 1998, the Seward Mural Society was formed when a local artist wanted to paint big. Ten years later, Seward earned the title "Mural Capital of Alaska" with over twenty murals enlivening our public spaces. The mural society now sponsors annual murals that are designed by a master artist, painted by volunteers, and put up on a building around town.

Through the years, each of these organizations continued to evolve. In 2007, the groups decided it was time to place all of the creative talents under a single umbrella, and the Seward Arts Council was born.

The growth of the groups did not stop just because they joined together. Instead the collective group has striven to continue expanding access to the arts in Seward. Now, in addition to theater, music, and murals, the group helps support a community band, the First Friday summer art walks, a winter movie series, an artists in schools program, an annual poetry festival, and an annual scholarship for a graduating high school senior interested in pursuing the arts.