Coeur d’Alene Arts & Culture Alliance has been awarded a $350,000 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities grant to pilot a first-of-its-kind initiative that will bring artists, scientists, tribal leaders, and economic development leaders together to drive awareness about the environmental challenges facing Coeur d’Alene Lake, says the organization's executive director, Abby Light.

The initiative, dubbed the Living Lake Project, will launch in January and support up to a dozen artists in Kootenai, Shoshone, and Benewah counties in an 18-month environmental stewardship fellowship that will allow the artists to learn about issues facing Coeur d’Alene Lake, such as historical mining contamination and harmful algae blooms, then translate those challenges into public facing art, performances, and other community engagement features, she explains.

“Our mission is to support and promote artists,” Light says. “Our programs have allowed us to pay artists and keep artists in Coeur d’Alene funded. Finding money in a grant like this, thinking outside the box, I think will hopefully set an example for creatives.”

The idea for the project came from Darya Pilram, a fellow in the Economic Recovery Corps, a program under the U.S. Department of Commerce, says Light.

Pilram, whose fellowship is hosted by Greater Spokane Incorporated in partnership with the Coeur d’Alene Economic Development Corp. to create economic development opportunities through the arts, learned through the Department of Environmental Quality that the government agency was having significant roadblocks in engaging the public on issues impacting Coeur d’Alene Lake. 

“Recognizing an opportunity, Darya brought the idea to me at the Coeur d’Alene Arts & Culture Alliance,” Light says. “(Pilram) then helped us find the right grant funding and rallied the partnerships and support needed to develop a successful application.”

The initiative brings together several agencies and organizations, including The Coeur d‘Alene Tribe, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, CDA Arts Commission, the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, and the Coeur d'Alene Economic Development Corp. The initiative will also draw inspiration and mentorship from Minnesota-based organization Springboard for the Arts.

The project is being funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and administered by Seattle-based Philanthropy Northwest.  

During the 18-month fellowship program, numerous public-facing events are planned, Light says. Such events include studio tours, pop-up exhibits, public information sessions, community participation opportunities, and other updates, she adds. In addition, Light says she hopes to include nonfellowship artists in smaller projects and commissions.

“Using creativity and the arts (is) a tried and true and proven model for getting complicated information across to people,” Light says. “When it comes to the environment, we know that art is definitely a proven way to get complex ideas across.”