Grantee: Spokane Sisters’ Art Group

The Spokane Sisters’ Art Group is a collective of 13 Muslim women formed in January 2022 around a shared interest for the arts, humanities, and social service. The collective represents refugees from Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan and immigrants from Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Russia. Some of these women have not had the opportunity to explore their artistic side for a myriad of reasons, including a lack of access to an art teacher, lack of childcare, financial limitations to obtaining art supplies, and lack of support. Moreover, some members of the group do not have an adequate opportunity to connect with the Spokane community at large and vice versa due to cultural and linguistic barriers. 

With art supplies purchased through individual donations and a grant award from Art Salvage, the Spokane Sisters’ Art Group has already held a watercolor workshop and an Arabic calligraphy workshop, initiatives which supported refugees and immigrants to create indigenous visual arts of the Muslim world and share global influences with the local community. 

In order to facilitate the indigenous visual art workshop on a monthly basis across a 10-month period, SAGA funding will pay for instruction from two local art teachers, artist stipends, space rental, an onsite babysitter, transportation costs, art supplies, and assistant fees. Funding will also go towards the production of watercolor paintings, Arabic calligraphy, and basket weaving which will be displayed at the Manito Art Festival, Artfest Spokane, and Spokane Public Libraries.

To learn more about The Spokane Sisters’ Art Group, visit https://www.spokanesistersart.com/.