“The 101 Artists’ Colony is an indispensable part of civic culture in the city of Encinitas,” said Peder Norby, Highway 101 Coordinator, and former Executive Director, Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association (DEMA). “You cannot downplay or do without the contributions the 101 Artists’ Colony has made. People are searching for the authentic and the original. They are tired of consumer sameness. The two strongest elements that give us that unique identity are our historic buildings and our art. These are critical, critical factors in downtown Encinitas.”