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Grantee: Friends of Manito

Project Title: The 2024 Manito Park Art Festival
Year awarded: 2024, Round 1

The annual Manito Park Art Festival is preparing for its fourth year. Designed to be approachable to artists both emerging and established, the event features art, wares, crafts, food, musical performances, and activities. The festival builds culture and strengthens the community while providing an economic opportunity for artists. Against the beautiful backdrop of Manito Park, previous years have spotlighted over 70 Spokane artists and their work. Although many artists are unable to establish themselves in the art community because of the financial limitation of applying for booth space, the Manito Park Art Festival ensures that emerging artists are given the opportunity to pursue their art career without significant financial barriers.

SAGA funding for the 2024 event will help celebrate Expo ’74’s 50th anniversary with a dynamic community stage with a full lineup of cultural and musical performances throughout the day. Moreover, the Festival aims to incorporate legacy, arts, and culture, aligning with Expo 50th themes. They will also partner with Spokane Public Schools to educate their children about the fair’s legacy and encourage them to artistically interpret their own legacies, similar to the impact Expo ’74 had on Spokane.