The arts help drive our experiences and shape the iconography of our favorite places. Think Pike Place Market, the Eiffel Tower, One Central Park, or the Taj Mahal. From street art to sculpture, architecture to alleyways, the arts create visual and emotional landmarks – filled with texture, meaning, and memory – helping to make cities more than just places we live in or visit , but places we feel connected to and LOVE.
This is certainly true for Spokane. “Seeing the Pavilion lit up in the night sky, families feeding the Garbage Goat, or the many murals that feel synonymous with some of my favorite corners of
the city – it’s the arts, our art, that makes Spokane feel like home,” said Ginger Ewing, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Terrain, a groundbreaking nonprofit whose eponymous annual event on the first Friday of October showcases the work of hundreds of local artists and attracts thousands of attendees, near and far.
Last year alone, Terrain served 688 artists and saw 71,000 people attend their various events. “When you have people visiting Spokane for art reasons, they’re staying in hotels and eating in restaurants, so it has a huge, multi-layer positive effect,” said Steve MacDonald, Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Spokane.
In fact, Washington state’s creative sector is number one in the nation, contributing $119.2 billion to the state’s economy.
Although Spokane’s creative scene was a hidden gem for many years, it has a rich legacy of arts and culture, at one point boasting more vaudeville houses than any other place in the United States.
“To be part of this historical, unbroken chain of creatives and artists is really fun,” said Skyler Oberst,
Executive Director for Spokane Arts, a nonprofit whose roots date back to Expo ‘74.
Oberst compares Spokane’s burgeoning art community to a scene in the movie When Harry Met Sally. “When things are working and we’re truly at our best is when others come to us and say, ‘I’ll have what they’re having.’”
Spokane’s world-class creative community punches WAY above its weight, from intimate venues like
Stage Left Theater producing nationally recognized shows to events like Terrain, Bazaar, Spokane Print Fest, Get Lit!, Pie & Whiskey, Volume, Spokane Zine Fest, SPIFF, and Tacos y Tequila. Plus, with drop-in style artist collectives like Heads Up Portrait Club or artist-driven projects like Live from Somewhere, it’s no wonder Spokane is on the map.
Ewing explained that the arts offer so much more than identity. They help us interpret the world around us. They transform everyday spaces into moments of connection and joy. They invite everyone – regardless of status or background – to slow down, be curious, and see the world through another person’s eyes. Art feeds our souls, reminding us that cities aren’t just built with concrete and steel, but with creativity, culture, and care.
What Ewing loves most about Spokane’s creative community is the collaborative spirit – people willing to roll up their sleeves, share knowledge, and give what they can. That generosity has led to cross-pollination between disciplines, helped bridge generational gaps, opened doors for mentorship, and fostered the kind of authentic relationships that are essential for long-term creative growth and sustainability.
In the 17 years since Terrain’s inception, Ewing has seen Spokane start to discover itself. “The artists applying for opportunities – and the crowds showing up in support – have grown exponentially, hungry to connect with one another. And now, we’re seeing people in positions of power beginning to understand the value of the arts and what they bring to our city. That combination – of top-down support and bottom-up drive – bodes incredibly well for unlocking Spokane’s creative potential.”
There are numerous ways to support the arts in Spokane. Show up to events – many are FREE! A good place to start is DSP’s First Friday, where on the first Friday of each month, downtown Spokane restaurants and retailers showcase the work of local artists, musicians, and other creatives in the community.
“Come Downtown and experience amazing culture,” invited Oberst. “Be prepared to surprise yourself and get your hopes up again. Our world is so complicated these days that oftentimes we forget to just be wowed, to be moved by something.
“Show your support by volunteering. Donate if you’re able. Follow artists and arts organizations on social media, like and share their content, sign up for newsletters, and write a positive review when
something moves you.
“Spokane’s creative momentum is real – and it ’s ours to shape,” said Ewing. “If we continue showing up for each other, investing in our artists and arts organizations, and believing in the role creativity plays in our shared future, there’s no limit to what this city can become. We have the talent. We have the vision. Collectively, we just need to want it badly enough.”