UnchARTered Territory:
Creating an Arts Funding Stream in the Wild West of Central Washington
E
llensburg, known to most for the Ellensburg Rodeo and our restroom access
right off of I-90, is rich in hay — and surprisingly in artists, many of whom landed
here either because of the art program at Central Washington University or more
currently, as refugees from the housing market on the “West Side.”
Monica Miller
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
GALLERY ONE VISUAL ARTS CENTER
Monica Miller
Executive Director
Gallery One Visual Arts Center
408 N Pearl St, Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-925-2670
www.gallery-one.org
https://www.facebook.com/GalleryOneEllensburg/
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ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE
The combination of its beautifully preserved historic downtown, the university, the
gorgeous surrounding landscape, more accessible housing market, and ease of liv-
ing make it a gem of a nesting spot for artists and other creatives. The town boasts
a downtown jazz festival and a top notch music scene, tourist destination Dick and
Jane’s Spot, a Poetry Prowl, a robust First Friday Art Walk with several galleries
and museums to visit, a community arts center, Gallery One, and a growing number
of public art pieces. The town validates and supports these activities through the
mayor-appointed volunteer Ellensburg Arts Commission, which since 1980 has
been charged with advising the city council and staff on matters related to the arts.
Up until 2015, advising was the primary activity of the Ellensburg Arts Commis-
sion, with few funds available to impact much difference otherwise. Then the El-
lensburg City Council agreed to an ordinance that now provides up to 10 percent of
new construction sales tax revenue with a cap of $50,000. Put into perspective, this
is $0.42 per capita. That’s not too shabby for a rural town that a lot of Washington
State residents associate with its university, fast food lane, and access to the Yaki-
ma River. In a time when the arts, like many other resources, were seemingly only
available for a select few, the city council saw value in making a commitment to
the arts. But it didn’t happen overnight. In the hopes of encouraging more commu-
nities to find sustainable funding for the arts in their communities, I share our story.