Council rescinds recent amendment to Spokane Arts contract as members debate new city arts office

On Nov. 24 the Spokane City Council voted to rescind last week’s amendment that would have extended the Spokane Arts contract term from two years back to three, following lobbying from councilmembers and representatives of Spokane Arts.

Council member Dillon said subsequent conversations with Spokane Arts and the Arts Commission prompted the move: “After some subsequent discussion with Spokane Arts and the, Spokane Arts Commission, namely that they had been in some longer negotiations ... there was a preference to just keep it at 2 years rather than being locked into 3.” The motion to rescind was moved and seconded and, after discussion noting mixed views on contract length from commission members and the chair (Skyler), the council recorded the motion as passing by a 5‑to‑2 vote in the agenda review meeting.

Several council members framed the rescission against broader decisions the council was taking on arts funding. Council member Cathcart noted the council was likely to vote that night to create an office of arts costing roughly $147,000 and questioned whether maintaining multi‑year contracts alongside a new city arts office was necessary; Cathcart suggested shorter bridging terms if the city assumes those functions. Other members said the Arts Commission and Arts Fund Board are separate bodies and that stakeholders lacked a single consensus view on term length.

What’s next: The motion to rescind the three‑year amendment to Spokane Arts’ contract was adopted in the agenda review. The council also moved forward with discussing a new Office of Arts as part of broader budget deliberations; committee and final budget action will determine how city funding for arts programs is structured going forward.