Sprout Seattle Programs
Sprout presents tri-yearly communal dinners where diners listen to artist proposals and vote to award one artist with the proceeds from the entrance fee. Founded in 2010, the Sprout community has funded twelve artists and given away more than $9,000. We engage the local community to be collaborators in the art-funding process, and create an intimate setting to introduce the community to artists who may not have gallery exposure or access to a wide public. Unlike the typical granting formula where the deliberation process is closed, Sprout invites the community and artists to directly participate in the granting process. Partnering with local chefs and food purveyors, the dinners allow the community direct access to artists over a deliciously prepared meal. At consecutive Sprout dinners, previously funded artists present to the community on how the grant has impacted their project.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In the Spring of 2011, the Sprout community awarded a grant to Klara Glosova to help realize her project, NEPO 5K Don't Run. A marathon of sorts, the NEPO 5K attracted hundreds of local participants and more than 80 local artists to create artwork, installations and performances along a 5 kilometer path winding from Occidental Park, through the ID district, and landing in Beacon Hill. A kind of treasure hunt through the city, the many art projects along the way sparked the imagination and introduced the community to the wealth of talented artists who reside in Seattle's neighborhoods.
This project is one example of the kind of amazing proposals that the Sprout community was able to help launch. As a volunteer-run and community-funded project, Sprout relies entirely on individuals to provide financial support to successfully grow and operate more dinner events and support more emerging artists. Sprout operates with no paid staff, events are staffed by community volunteers, and much of our food, beverage and venue rental is in-kind. As a result, all proceeds from revenues go directly to fund grants and operate the dinner events. We need your support to help launch more exciting projects by Seattle emerging artists.