For Kids
The Spokane Arts Commission was founded in 1976 with a mission to promote and enhance arts and culture. The Spokane Arts Commission hosts 16 volunteer positions. Commissioners serve three-year terms, attend monthly meetings (on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 4:30 pm), and have the opportunity to work on specific projects and initiatives in the Spokane area.
The arts commission serves as an advisory board to both the City of Spokane and Spokane Arts, which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Art commissioners represent a variety of arts disciplines, neighborhoods, and skill sets to help promote and support arts and culture. Each art commissioner attends monthly meetings as well as serving on one or more committees. Some commissioners serve on committees that meet regularly throughout the year, while others serve on various ad-hoc juries, assisting with artist selection for public art calls like signal box designs, murals, sculpture, and more. Art commissioners also serve on selection panels (alongside community members) to select the next poet laureate, to determine future exhibits for the Chase Gallery, to distribute grant awards, and much more.
A few examples of work art commissioners have done recently:
- Attended Arts & Heritage Advocacy day in Olympia to meet with our state legislators and speak on behalf of arts & culture
- Served as a judge for the Poetry Out Loud regional finals and the Music Video Jams film festival
- Wrote articles for a local magazine about the indie music scene, the poet laureate program, and artist networking
- Helped staff the Chase Gallery during First Friday receptions
- Served on juries to select artists for upcoming public art projects and new murals
- Served as the arts commission’s representative on other city boards and committees, to ensure the perspective of arts & culture is involved in city planning
- Participated in a roundtable discussion to offer input on needed resources for individual artists
- Presented at neighborhood council meetings
- …and much more!
Because the arts commission is a city commission, subject to confirmation by City Council and the Mayor, members of the arts commission must live within the boundaries of the city of Spokane. Even though Spokane Arts (as an organization) serves the wider region, the arts commission is limited by their designation in the municipal code for city residents only. If you live outside the city’s boundaries but have interest in being involved, please contact melissa@spokanearts.org! The current roster of the Spokane Arts Commission can be viewed here or here.
Questions can be directed to Spokane Arts’ executive director via melissa@spokanearts.org or 509.321.6444. The application form can be requested in person at City Hall or downloaded here. You can drop the completed application off at City Hall, or email it directly to mayor@spokanecity.org. The priority deadline for applications to be received at City Hall is Sunday, November 1. Applications received after that date will be kept on file and contacted when a new opening occurs.