Spokane Art School Announces University District Move

New space twice as large as current location

Spokane — January 25, 2023 — Today, the Spokane Art School announced the upcoming closure of its Garland location with plans to celebrate a grand reopening in a new expanded University District location during First Friday on March 3. The opening show in the school’s new gallery space will be a Women’s History Month invitational. Located two blocks from the Catalyst building at 503 E. 2nd (the corner of Second and Sherman), the new space is three times larger than the old facility, has a dedicated parking lot, and will allow for expanded class, gallery, and event offerings with room to grow.

“We searched for our new home for more than six months, and couldn’t be happier with the new space,” said Tad Wisenor, Spokane Art School board president. “The building has a rich history and industrial charm with high ceilings, exposed brick and polished concrete floors that really provide a great atmosphere for our diverse programs. Our mission is ‘Teaching Spokane to Make and Enjoy Art’ and we believe this new facility will help us fulfill that mission better than ever before.”

New and expanded class offerings on the way

Founded in 1968, the art school has been in the Garland District for the past eleven years but was located downtown before. The move to the burgeoning University District is precipitated by post-pandemic growth and interest that outstripped available space. “Our teachers, all of whom are practicing professional artists, served more students in 2022 than any other year in the past decade,” Wisenor said. The new space will allow for up to four classes to be held concurrently in larger, more comfortable spaces, and long-term plans include a ceramics classroom and private studio rentals for local artists.

A welcome addition to the University District

Juliet Sinisterra, University District CEO, is excited to welcome the Spokane Art School to the neighborhood. “We are thrilled that the Spokane Art School will be located within the District. Developing an innovative, culturally-rich district around education is central to our mission. The art school will serve as a fantastic public destination for all ages.”

TEACHING SPOKANE TO MAKE AND ENJOY ART

Since 1968

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. Off-site classes are also offered through our ArtReach program to underserved groups; schoolchildren, Crosswalk clients, library patrons and community centers. The School maintains an active gallery exhibition program that provides educational programming for viewers, as well as exposure and financial support for local artists and teachers.