For Kids
With SAGA support, the MAC and the project lead, MAC Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art, Rachel Allen will organize and research a convening of 38 artists, scholars, curators, culture bearers, and tribal leaders from the Plateau–a cultural region located between the Cascade Range and the Rocky Mountains stretching across the Columbia River Basin from British Columbia into Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and northern California.
Over four days–April 24-27, 2026–participants will explore the conceptual framework of a publication and exhibition slated to open in fall 2029, that will chart the impact of the Indigenous Plateau on American art through the lens of contemporary artists. Despite the landmark success of individuals, artists of the Plateau have not been recognized as a group at scale. This project will expand scholarly and public understanding of Plateau art by introducing a broad American public to artists who draw from the deep wells of Plateau art history and have influenced American art history for over 200 years.
Outcomes from the convening will be shared in several ways. First, the public program portions will be free and open to the public. They will also be livestreamed to watch online, as well as archived on the MAC’s YouTube channel for future viewing. Second, the transcripts from the closed sessions will be held in the MAC’s Joel E. Ferris Research Archives, and an executive summary will be published. This summary featuring participant voices will address the main points discussed, including the interpretive frameworks developed and exhibition priorities. While this summary will guide further development of the exhibition, it will also be available to serve as a resource for future scholarship and projects. To ensure participation in the convening is inclusive and accessible to invitees, the MAC has budgeted for travel, accommodations, and meals support for all participants, removing cost as a barrier.
A contemporary Plateau survey is unprecedented at this scale, representing artists across the Canada-U.S. border. Although the project’s content spans a vast cultural geography, its anchor in Spokane ensures that the city reaps both the immediate benefits of convening thought leaders and the long-term dividends of heightened cultural reputation, artist development, and community engagement.