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Spokane Arts reports $153,000 in grants last year; public art, murals and anti‑graffiti coating highlighted
Summary
Spokane Arts staff updated the Urban Experience Committee on grant distributions, public murals, asphalt‑art projects and plans for a municipal arts plan, noting $153,000 distributed in 2024 and over $1 million in cumulative grants since the program began.
Skyler Oberst, Spokane Arts presenter, gave the committee a quarterly update on public‑art programs, grant making and public‑private partnerships.
Oberst said the department distributed $153,000 directly to artists and arts organizations in 2024 and that the program has passed $1,000,000 in cumulative grant making since its start. "For 2025, we've officially passed $1,000,000 in grant making to artists and arts organizations since the inception of this program," Oberst said.
He described two ongoing public programs: Asphalt Arts (neighborhood street murals and crosswalk art) and a downtown mural program. Oberst said crews completed seven murals downtown during a September rally and that many murals now use anti‑graffiti coatings. When asked whether the coating increases project cost, Oberst said the coating cost is included in project budgets and offered to provide a percentage breakdown by email.
Oberst also described use of admissions‑tax revenue: Spokane Arts curates roughly 33% of those funds, splitting that allocation so half goes directly to artists through low‑barrier grants. He reviewed other initiatives including a fiscal‑sponsorship program for emerging arts groups, a signal‑box art program for local high‑school students and plans to develop a municipal arts plan. The Spokane Arts Commission intends to begin outreach for the municipal arts plan after finalizing dates and times, Oberst said. He noted the last municipal arts plan was produced roughly 13 years ago.
Ending
The committee praised recent installations such as a Lincoln Park covering, and members asked for additional details by email on anti‑graffiti coating costs and the municipal arts plan schedule.
