Arts At The Heart Of New City Plan

After attending dozens of meetings and listening to hundreds of hours of public testimony, Spokane arts director Sue Ellen Heflin has reached two conclusions:

First, meetings are not her favorite place to spend the summer.

And second, “There’s tremendous optimism about what the arts can do for the community,” Heflin says. “There’s a belief that together we can make this a better place to live, and that the arts play an important role. That the quality of air is not the only issue - there has to be a reason to keep breathing. To me, that’s real important.”

Five months ago, Heflin and the Spokane Arts Commission asked neighborhood residents, artists, musicians, writers, educators and others to help define the cultural goals Spokane should focus on during the next decade.

Two basic themes were echoed by many of the more than 300 participants: Neighborhood programs are a crucial element in bringing the arts to local residents, and so is maintaining a “critical mass” of arts-related activities downtown.

Specific recommendations included creating sculptural or architectural gateways to neighborhoods and downtown, incorporating artwork into new bus shelters, and bringing more art programs to community centers and neighborhood parks.

Heflin was especially intrigued by a proposal to turn an abandoned railroad bridge near Mission Park into a marketplace for artists.

The proposal, along with about two-thirds of the others, would require new funding. But Heflin says many suggestions included in her draft Community Cultural Plan only need cooperation among existing organizations.

A public hearing on the so-called “Action Arts” plan is set for Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

After reviewing comments, the Arts Commission will finalize its plan and send it on to the Plan Commission. Presentation to the City Council is expected in early December.

“Now’s the time to speak up if people think things were left out, or that the emphasis is not where they thought it would be,” Heflin says.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT’S NEXT? Spokane Arts Commission’s draft Community Cultural Plan will be presented for public comment Wednesday night in the City Council Chambers.