The Spokane Arts Grant Awards (SAGA) funds multiple proposals through a competitive process from a pool of qualifying applications. Grant winners carry out arts projects and programs that take place in Spokane during the twelve months following their award date. A total of nearly $100,000 is granted annually for projects in storytelling, dance, installation, music composition, theater, writing, visual arts, language, and many other disciplines. Below we provide information about each of our awardees.
View the current year’s winners here.
Founded in 1916, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is the largest cultural organization in the Inland Northwest, serving more than 100,000 visitors a year. It is one of Washington State’s five Smithsonian affiliates and are accredited by the Alliance of American Museums.
Spokane Feminist Art Festival FEM+FEST 2019 is presented by Spokane NOW (National Organization for Women) in partnership with the Downtown Spokane Public Library. The Festival will take place on Saturday, April 27th from 6-9pm.
SAGA is supporting local playwright Kemuel DeMoville in the creation of an original work, “Fire Melt Stone,” along with the creation of a complimentary education packet for area schools (focused on grades 3-6).
Imagine Jazz is a non-profit organization founded by local composer, saxophonist and teacher, Rachel Bade-McMurphy, and SFCC teacher, composer, and trumpet player, Brendan McMurphy. The 2019-2020 season will be Imagine Jazz’s second year providing Spokane with high-quality concerts and educational opportunities.
The Spokane Art School is a non-profit corporation established in 1968 and provides quality art education taught by professional artists. We strive to remove barriers, both financial and otherwise, to hands-on arts education. We provide art classes to the general public in a variety of studio genres.
In close collaboration with Spokane Tribal experts, Chadwell and Castillo will be working to bring the Salish creation story to life. The story will be captured using both traditional and virtual reality filmmaking techniques, and will be set in a historically accurate representation of the Indian Congress Encampment.
Since 2013, Columbia Fire & Iron (CFI), a 501(c)(3), has volunteered hundreds of hours teaching and demonstrating traditional and modern blacksmithing around the Spokane area, giving the community an affordable way to try blacksmithing for the first time and offering continuing education in the craft.
Founded in 1916, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is the largest cultural organization in the Inland Northwest, serving more than 100,000 visitors a year. It is one of Washington State’s five Smithsonian affiliates and are accredited by the Alliance of American Museums.
Quiero Flamenco was created to promote and encourage the growth of Flamenco in the Inland Northwest. Aire Flamenco was their presentation of Flamenco arts with live music and dance at The Bing Crosby Theater on February 23, 2019.
Stage Left Theater is founded on the belief that live theater provides a mechanism for interpersonal interaction and should be relevant to the daily lives of the audience and the players. We seek to broaden the involvement of the general population by engaging issues of topical value.
Power 2 The Poetry is a performing arts LLC specializing in spoken word poetry. The group promotes freedom of expression, and provide a platform for underrepresented demographics in the community. Power 2 The Poetry’s after school poetry program will offer a platform for students to learn how to find their voice.
Bill and Kathy Kostelec are fine art photographers specializing in black and white film. Their work has exhibited in numerous galleries and juried events in the eastern Washington area since 2007. SAGA supported their free, public exhibition of A Spokane Silver Celebration.
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