Terrain: Spokane’s Creative Heartbeat
From One Night to a Movement
Seventeen years ago, Ginger Ewing thought she was planning a one-night-only event. Today, that spark has grown into Terrain, Spokane’s largest multimedia art and music celebration, and a nonprofit that is transforming the region’s creative landscape.
“What we thought would be a single evening has become a movement.” Ewing recalls. That movement now includes a flagship art and music event that draws up to 15,000 visitors, a retail shop called From Here in River Park Square featuring work from 140 local artists, a gallery space on North Monroe, seasonal art markets, and professional development programs for creatives. “If you think of the creative sector, Terrain probably has its foot in one of those things,” she says.
Why Spokane?
Ewing’s love for her city runs deep. “You’re not going to find someone who loves Spokane more than I do,” she says. “This town has an intangible, collaborative spirit. People roll up their sleeves and make things happen. Terrain wouldn’t exist without that.”
Born and raised in Cheney, Ewing left briefly before returning to work at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, a move that changed her life. “Spokane has a foundation of people who’ve been pounding the pavement for decades,” she says. “That groundwork lets organizations like Terrain help shape what our city is becoming. We’re collaborative, we say yes, and we make good things happen. That’s not always happening everywhere.”
She describes Spokane as a rare mix of urban energy and natural beauty: “We have a 100-acre park downtown, waterfalls, hundreds of lakes, and mountains just minutes away. And yet, we have a vibrant city vibe. That juxtaposition inspires the art you see here.”
Building a Creative Ecosystem that Sustains
Terrain’s mission goes beyond showcasing art; it’s about sustaining artists. “Everything we do is juried,” Ewing explains. “We’re looking for talent, but also curiosity, playfulness, and a voice.” Through gallery shows, retail opportunities, and events like Bazaar and Brrrzaar, Terrain helps artists make a living locally. “If you buy art at our events, 70% of that sale goes to the artist,” she notes. “That’s pretty unheard of.”
Each October, Terrain takes over a 40,000-square-foot warehouse downtown, filling it with visual art, film, dance, and music. “It’s magnetic,” Ewing says. “You have to experience it to understand. It’s an authentic reflection of who we are as a community.”
A Perfect Spokane Day
When she’s not championing the arts, Ewing embraces Spokane’s lifestyle. “An ideal day starts with a dog walk in Manito Park,” she says. “Then lunch at Ruins or Luna, shopping at local spots like Atticus and Boo Radley’s, and maybe hitting a vintage store. Spokane has an amazing culinary scene and so many ways to support local creators and businesses.”
The Spirit of Spokane
Ewing hints at a bold future for Terrain and the city of Spokane: “We’re working on a once-in-a-hundred-year project that will transform Spokane’s creative community and put us on the map. It’s going to be something really special.” She laughs: “Now we just have to raise $56 million. No big deal.”
A project of that scale, with the potential to shape an entire region’s creative future might feel overwhelming to some, but For Ewing, the power of a vision that large is about making an impact on individual lives.
“There are days I wonder, does this matter? Are we having an impact?” she admits. “And then someone tells me, ‘Terrain saved my life.’ That’s when I know we’re doing the right thing. I believe there isn’t a problem in this world that art and creativity can’t solve.”