Registration for Fall Arts Walk 2026 is now open!
Join us on October 2 and 3 for Arts Walk-a vibrant celebration of community, culture, and the arts! Don't miss this chance to amplify Olympia's creative energy!
Don't wait-register online at artswalkoly.com and join the celebration that makes Olympia a hub for creativity and the arts!
Percival Plinth Project 2026
Come down to Percival Landing July 1-31 to check out this year's sculptures and add your voice to the choice!
Hot tip: Join us for the kick-off event on Saturday, July 11 from 4-6pm! We'll be at the large pavilion near the plaza off Olympia Avenue handing out sweet treats and can answer any questions about the program you may have.
Can't make it in July? No problem! The sculptures will remain on view for a full year, so you'll have plenty of time to experience the incredible work of this year's artists: Ben Dye, Jill Drllevich, Hank Nelson, Shawn Johnson, KayC, Kannan Krishnan, Steven Nagode, Kyle Ocean, Travis Pond, Chris Rench, Christine Rose, Karen Sixkiller, Ken Turner, and Lloyd Whannell.
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Join us at Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation for some great classes!
To register or for more information, please click the link after each class, call 360-753-8380 or stop by to see us at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia Street NW, Olympia.
Performing Arts & Dance
Blues Ukulele, Jul 15-Aug 12
Discover Voice Overs!, July 18
Guitar II, Jul 23-Aug 6
Yes, You Can Play the Ukulele! Part 2, Aug 1-29
All About Guitar Chords, Aug 13
K-pop Dance, Aug 22
Visual Arts, & Crafts
Palette Knife Painting with Acrylics, Jul 11
Painting People and Faces, July 16-Aug 20
Advanced Drawing, July 16-Aug 20
Suminagashi - Floating Ink Collage, Jul 18
Alcohol Ink, Jul 25
Oil Painting II, Jul 25-Aug 29
Glass Mosaic Workshop, Jul 25
Exploring the Written Word through Art, Aug 1
Life Drawing, Aug 5-19
Prayer Flags, Aug 8
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CSMoFA: Indigenous Takeover at TCMOFA Celebrates "Temporal"
The annual Coast Salish Museum of Fine Arts (CSMoFA) is set to bring Indigenous futurism to audiences with its upcoming exhibition, "Temporal: Stories of Indigenous Present, Re-imagining Indigenous Futures." This multi-media event opens on October 2nd, 2026, at the Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts (TCMOFA) and serves as a radical act of reclamation for Indigenous stories and arts.
Curated by Mikaela Shafer, a Hopi mother, artist, and community advocate, CSMoFA stands as a bold re-envisioning of museum space. In collaboration with the Indigenous Creatives Collective, this exhibition embodies a commitment to uplifting Indigenous voices and stories, pushing against the conventional portrayals that often reduce Indigenous peoples to relics of the past.
"Temporal" invites visitors to confront the disconnect that many institutions impose, which keeps Indigenous experiences confined to history rather than recognizing their diverse presence in contemporary life. The curated works prompt an exploration of what it means to define ourselves on our own terms, reclaim our stories, and celebrate our enduring ties to community, culture, and land.
"This exhibit encourages the artists to take up space and command the present and envision a future where our stories are told by us, not for us," said Shafer. "This exhibition is an opportunity for real connection, understanding, and radical storytelling that reflects our identities in our own words in our own way."
Featuring a diverse group of multi-generational artists from many Tribal Nations who currently reside across the Pacific Northwest and bringing together many types of art forms, including performance art, larger-than-life installation, digital and video art, 2-D artwork, and traditional Indigenous art forms such as weaving and beadwork.
The participating artists include:
All artists in this exhibition are part of the Indigenous Creatives Collective's Indigenous creative roster, which can be viewed at https://www.indigenouscreatives.org/.
CSMoFA is funded in part by generous support from the Inspire Olympia Grant and the Washington State Arts Commission.
Experience the Melodies of Vietnam: Tri Âm Hòa ĐiệuLive!
Immerse yourself in a captivating afternoon of cultural heritage and musical mastery. The Tri Âm Hòa Điệu Vietnamese Music Instruments Group invites you to a special live performance showcasing the rich, enchanting sounds of traditional Vietnamese musical instruments.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Legislative Building's historic Rotunda, this family-friendly performance offers a rare opportunity to experience classical Vietnamese artistry right in the heart of Washington's capital.
We are incredibly honored to announce that this performance will feature special guest appearances by:
Senior Master Musician Vo Ha Khue from Seattle - Musician Kim Uyen from Toronto, Canada - Artisan Vo Hoang Ca from Seattle.
Their exceptional talent and artistry promise to elevate the afternoon, making this "Tri Âm Hòa Điệu" concert an unforgettable cultural experience!
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July 11, 2026, 2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
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Legislative Building - Rotunda, 416 Sid Snyder Ave, Olympia, WA 98504
Come celebrate tradition, community, and the beautiful harmonies of Vietnam. Don't miss this vibrant cultural showcase!"
SAVE THE DATE- Artist Garage Sale!
Items for sale will include: art, crafting materials, art supplies, fabric/textiles, frames, framing materials, collage materials, antique dolls, sewing machines and more!
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Sunday, July 12th from 10am-4pm
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LGM Studio Downtown Olympia (in alley between Stardust Salon and Nineveh)
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Participating artists: Lucy Gentry Meltzer, Lynette Charters Serembe
Harlequin's 2027 Season Announcement Gala to take place on August 1
Harlequin Productions is throwing its Annual Gala and Season Announcement on Saturday, August 1, 2026 - an evening celebrating the theatrical work that Harlequin creates and the community it loves and supports. As has become tradition, Harlequin's annual fundraising gala will be combined with the 2027 Season Announcement.
New this year: the Annual Gala will begin at 6:00 PM at Altitude 15 rather than at the State Theater. Attendees will enjoy a substantial spread from Bite Me Catering and a cash bar offering signature cocktails, beer, wine, and soft drinks. Entertainment will include live music by award-winning jazz band Eden Lane, an array of silent auction items, and a wine toss.
At 7:30 PM partygoers will proceed to the State Theater, where Producing Artistic Director Aaron Lamb and Featured Emcee Beth Doglio will present Harlequin's 36th season in a multi-media production spotlighting guest appearances by many of Harlequin's company members, artists and designers.
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Harlequin Production's 2027 Season Announcement Gala
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August 1, 2026.
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Reception begins at 6:00 PM at Altitude 15, with the Season 36 Announcement starting at 7:30 PM in the State Theater
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$90 General Admission Tickets are $70 for Subscribers with a coupon code
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Learn more
Newsletter Roundup
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Olympia Family Theater
Front of House Volunteers needed. No experience necessary!
Shifts available for ushering, selling concessions, and selling raffle tickets during performances.
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May 14-June 7, 2026
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Time commitment is usually under 4 hours.
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Thursday/Friday at 6pm, Saturday/Sunday at 2pm
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Must pass a background check.
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Please contact Tracy at [email protected].
Volunteer at the Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts
TCMoFA is currently looking for volunteers to help support our organization in upcoming programming. The museum is a volunteer operated project run on the passion, commitment, and enthusiasm of local artists and arts organizers. We are seeking volunteers for front desk shifts and flyering in Olympia. To apply visit our website tcmofa.org
Olympia Historical Society
If you have an interest in local history, please consider becoming a volunteer with the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum. We have a variety of roles to fill, including tour guides for the museum's Sunday afternoon open hours (1:00pm-4:00pm), groundskeeping at monthly Saturday morning work parties, and committee work for our Education, Bigelow House Operations, and Events (annual historic homes tour and spring fundraiser) committees.
Museum & Visitor Center Front Desk Docent
The Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance is seeking volunteers to support the OlyAHA! Museum & Visitor Center. Volunteering at the Olympia AHA Museum is a chance to learn and share Olympia's stories, to build connections in the community, to gain museum and customer service experience, and to be a part of something local, vital and lasting. Our volunteers are the face of the Olympia AHA Museum. They greet guests, share stories, and connect visitors to the best of Olympia.
As a volunteer you will:
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Welcome and assist visitors
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Interpret exhibitions
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Sell merchandise
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Help visitors to discover Olympia's arts, heritage, and cultures
We're looking for committed volunteers who are enthusiastic about Olympia's arts, cultures and history.
Our volunteer team is:
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Friendly, welcoming, and professional
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Comfortable learning point-of-sale and scheduling tools
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Reliable, cooperative, and ready to assist visitors
Volunteer Experience:
Volunteers work in pairs at our front desk for three- or four-hour shifts. Volunteers can expect seasonal appreciation events and ongoing learning opportunities!
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The ARCH Digest is a summary of Arts, Culture and History happenings in the greater Olympia area, submitted by the community. Please turn in ArCH Digest listings to [email protected].
Deadline Monday morning, 8 a.m.
If you know of anyone who would like to receive the City of Olympia Arts & Culture news, which includes a weekly ArCH Digest, direct them here and have them mark the Arts & Culture box.
Disclaimer: Information in the Arts Digest is not vetted through the City, nor is it endorsed by the City. The reader is solely responsible for checking background on any opportunity listed above.
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Contact
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager
Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
360.709.2678
[email protected]
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