Spoken River 2026: Call for artists

Spoken River is Spokane Riverkeeper’s annual fundraiser and celebration of art, community, and the living voice of the Spokane River. Each year, we invite artists to help us illuminate the river’s stories, its beauty, its challenges, and the shared responsibility we hold in protecting it.

This year’s theme, We Are Listening, centers on attention, presence, and relationship. We’re asking artists to explore what it means to listen deeply: to the river itself, to the communities connected to it, to the histories held in its water, and to the future it calls us toward. We welcome work in all mediums that reflects how listening can shape stewardship, spark imagination, and strengthen our collective care for the river.

Spoken River brings together artists, advocates, partners, and neighbors in a community‑driven event that highlights creativity as a powerful force for environmental protection of the Spokane River. Through art, we create space to hear the river, and each other, more clearly.

What to Submit

Short essay, reflection, story, or poem
Visual art + brief artist statement (upload images)
Optional: A voice memo of you reading your written piece so we can “hear” your work

Word limit: Up to 750 words

How to Submit

Upload your written piece (PDF or Word)
Upload images if submitting visual art
Upload an optional voice memo file
Complete the short submission form (below).

Who Should Apply

We welcome all perspectives— especially Indigenous creators, youth, and underrepresented voices whose relationships with the river are vital and enduring.

Deadline

October 7, 2026

If Selected

Contributors receive two complimentary tickets and will share their work live at Spoken River on November 12, 2026.

Please contact us at [email protected] or 509-464-7650 if you have any questions.

Spoken River 2025

What a night! Thank you to live painting by Kirsten Stobie, live music by The River Rockers, Olivia and Scott Brownlee, Salish School Drum Group, Cutboard Studio for the video, and to Louis Bates, Eleanor Limmer, John Nelson, Ben Van Voorhis, Leah Welki —our storytellers and poets. Thank you as well to our sponsors, donors, volunteers and every guest who joined us for Spoken River. In one evening, your collective energy and voices helped safeguard 73 miles of river.

Explore highlights and photos below!

Photos courtesy of Joni Scott and Rouge Heart Media.

Film by Cutboard Studio.

Spoken River 2024

We raised nearly $70,000 in the paddle raise and an additional $5,000 in the silent auction. Together we protected nearly 55 river miles in one evening! Check out some of the photos from the event below.