The candidates answered a survey about the importance of the arts.
| Tim Benn | Kate Burke | |||
| Please rate your interest in the arts | Somewhat interested | Very interested | ||
| What arts activities have you and/or your family attended, participated in, or supported during the past year? Check all that apply. | ||||
| Music | music | |||
| Theater | theater | theater | ||
| Broadway Shows | broadway shows | |||
| Opera | ||||
| Dance | dance | |||
| Visual | visual | |||
| Film | film | film | ||
| Poetry | poetry | |||
| Creative Writing | creative writing | |||
| Photography | photography | |||
| Folk Arts | folk arts | |||
| Other | other | |||
| Did you or your children participate in any of the above “arts” activities while in school? | yes | no | ||
| Are you a season subscriber or a member at any local arts organizations? | no | yes | ||
| Please give the top three reasons the arts important to you, your family, and/or your community. | ||||
| Provide entertainment | 2 | |||
| Encourage creativity | ||||
| Create a sense of community | 2 | |||
| Advance understanding | ||||
| Support civic engagement | ||||
| Promote cultural heritage | 1 | |||
| Draw tourism | 3 | |||
| Attract a high quality workforce | ||||
| Drive economic development | 1 | |||
| Complete a well-rounded education | 3 | |||
| How familiar are you with the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) and its programs? | Limited knowledge | Very knowledgable | ||
| The arts create jobs and produce tax revenue, stimulate business activity, attract tourism revenue, and help businesses attract and retain a quality work force. | Agree | Strongly agree | ||
| The arts are an appropriate concern of state government and should be publicly funded. | Neutral | Strongly agree | ||
| Public art improves and enhances public spaces and should be publicly funded. | Agree | Strongly agree | ||
| Basic education funding must include sufficient and equitable resources for all core subjects, including the arts. | Agree | Strongly agree | ||
| The benefits of arts education should be equitably provided to all Washington students. | Agree | Strongly agree | ||
| Can you describe an instance in which you’ve observed an impact of arts learning? | My wife and I run a childcare, so we frequently observe children using art as a means to communicate, work together, learn motor skills, and use their imagination creatively. Over the years many of the children have gone on to participate in a variety of arts. In fact we have a play coming up, because one of the children got a part with the Spokane Children’s Theatre. | I feel in the last few years Spokane has grown immensely in the arts culture we have. This has not only grown the amount of young people who want to live here, but also has led to a lot of young people wanting to stay here. I have been a supporter of the arts in funding support, volunteering and enjoying! I think this is essential for Spokane’s growth. I have learned a lot by going to meetings and events! Thank you for your work and advocacy. |