Grantee: Elk Soup

Elk Soup, an Indigenous-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is launching the Elk Soup Native Arts Market & Coffee Bar in Airway Heights—an ambitious effort to create the region’s first year-round, nonprofit-operated Native arts marketplace. Located along Highway 2 between two tribal casinos, the space is strategically positioned to serve Native communities traveling across Washington, Idaho, and Montana, as well as the broader Spokane public. With a planned opening in spring 2026, the project will establish a permanent retail and cultural hub where Native artists can consistently showcase and sell their work, including beadwork, textiles, carving, prints, and mixed media. SAGA funding will support essential startup costs such as display infrastructure, outreach, staffing, and insurance, enabling the market to open quickly and begin serving artists without delay.

More than a retail space, the market is designed as a community-centered environment for cultural exchange, education, and creative development. Through workshops, artist demonstrations, youth programming, and seasonal events, Elk Soup will expand access to Indigenous arts while fostering economic opportunity and cultural visibility for Native artists. The project responds directly to longstanding community demand for stable, low-barrier venues and culturally grounded gathering spaces, while advancing Elk Soup’s broader mission across arts and culture, education, entrepreneurship, and wellness. By transitioning from event-based programming to a permanent, year-round presence, the Native Arts Market strengthens regional infrastructure, supports Indigenous leadership in the arts, and creates a sustainable platform for ongoing community impact.