Fourteenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

Twisp, Washington, sits in the foothills of the Northern Cascades. The closest major cultural center, Seattle, is 200 miles to the southwest. This paper tells the story of how, through the work of a few dedicated artists, Twisp, a town of 900 residents, became an artistic hub of north-central Washington. The Spartan Art Project began in 2012 when three artists, disheartened at the local gallery’s focus on “tourist art” took matters into their own hands. They purchased a 1951, 36’ Spartan Imperial Mansion travel trailer that was in distressingly horrible condition and through hard work and community involvement turned it into a successful art venue. To date, the Spartan Art Project has featured nationally acclaimed fine artists, scholarly presentations on the arts, and musical performances. Community support and engagement is so strong that the trailer is typically overly full, with event goers spilling out onto the surrounding patio during venues. The goal of the project is to provide a space where art can do its job, which is, according to its creators, catharsis. It is a space that the community feels a part of, rather than just visitors to. It is a self-proclaimed artist’s free zone, where artist can exhibit and perform without censorship and without having to bend to the demands of consumerism. According to Jeff Winslow, one of the founders, it is about taking a chance, creating a no-overhead art space so that the organization can respond to the needs and desires of the community, not the landlord.