Arts Walk this Weekend!
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Friday, April 25, 5-10pm and Saturday, April 26, Noon-6pm
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Luminary Procession Friday, 8:30pm
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Procession of the Species Saturday, 4:30pm
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Pick up a map at any of the 116 locations or check it out online at artwalk.com
Arts Walk Events from the ARCH Digest Mailbox:
NOTAFLOF: Three Decades of Olympia Show Posters with the Olympia Music History Project
Community Print, together with the Olympia Music History Project, will share a selection of the many hand printed show flyers created in the CP studio over the years. Join us in creating a collaborative zine about Olympia's music scene while listening to selections from the Olympia Music History Project's oral history interviews. Community Print members will also have prints available for purchase.
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Friday, April 25, 6-9 pm and Saturday, April 26, 12-4 pm
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Location: Community Print, 414 Legion Way SE, Olympia
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(front door faces 5th Avenue, look for the native plant mural!)
Olympia Art League ArtsWalk Juried Show
Olympia Art League is proud to present our 77th Open Fine Arts Juried Show. This is one of the highlights of Spring Arts Walk. Bring your family and friends to view the wonderful art and vote your choice for the People's Choice Award.
Please stop by the North Hall of Olympia Community Center (222 Columbia St NW) to view the 65 accepted entries from Washington artists. $1,775 in prizes will be award at the reception Thursday, April 24 6:60-8:30pm.
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April 21 - April 26, 2025
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The show is available for public viewing Monday through Friday from 8am-8pm M-F and 8-5pm on Saturday.
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Reception - Thursday, April 24 6:60-8:30pm.
Stories from the Heart: ArtsWalk Show at Olympia Timberland Library
We're honored to share our latest collection, Stories from the Heart, on display now through May 7 at the Olympia Timberland Library. This exhibit celebrates the personal stories that have deeply shaped our artists-whether through cherished childhood books, meaningful moments with loved ones, or transformative life experiences.
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Join us downtown at Olympia Timberland Library on Wednesday, May 7 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm for a closing reception party.
Olympia Peace Choir Spring Concert
The Olympia Peace Singers and Treble Voices for Peace, branches of The Olympia Peace Choir, will present their spring concert, on Sunday afternoon, April 27, 2025, at 2:30 pm, in the Heritage Room, 604 Water St. SW, Olympia. Bring your friends and family to hear our inclusive choir's wonderful harmonies. Our concerts are free to all. Donations are gratefully accepted. We are thankful recipients of the City of Olympia's Inspire Olympia grant for 2024-2025.
Register for Spring Poetry Reading Workshop!
Join Olympia Poet Laureate Kathleen Byrd for a spring poetry reading workshop on the theme of eco-poetry. Workshop is free, registration required:
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Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 4-5:30pm: Register Poetry reading session at Harbor House on Percival Landing. The selected book is Amot, by Craig Santos Perez. Bring a copy of the book if you can (you don't need to read the entire collection, but should have some familiarity with it). Kathleen will bring additional poems or readings to further our conversation.
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Wednesday, May 28, 4-5:30pm: Register Poetry writing session at The Olympia Center Room 100, exploring the poetics of place. The theme is Spring/Air. Participants will be introduced to poetics of place and given opportunities to write, reflect, and share, responding to prompts that connect us to our own home place here in Olympia. We will also think about grief and hope as a collective response to climate change in our community. No prior poetry experience necessary. Be sure to bring writing materials!
Did You Miss the Poet Laureate Application Workshop?
Two final opportunities this week - on Zoom
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
RakasaFit Core Fitness Belly Dance, May 5-Jun 30
Intermediate/Advanced Belly Dance, May 5-Jun 30
You Can Do Voice Overs!, May 6
Hawaiian Dance, May 7-Jun 25
Advanced Hawaiian Dance, May 7-Jun 25
Introduction to Basic Waltz, May 9-Jun 13
Footloose 50s Rock 'N' Roll, May 9-Jun 13
Guitar II, May 29-Jun 12
Visual Arts, & Crafts
Mimic the Masters, May 1-22
Nature Photography Workshop, May 3
Fused Glass Art May Flowers! Spring Celebration, May 3
Life Drawing, May 7-21
Alcohol Ink, May 10
Color Your Canvas Painting - Spring Bouquet, May 15
Dotting (Dot Painting), May 17
Dotting Youth, May 17
Visions of Our Earth: Collaging the World We Wish To See, May 20-Jun 10
Starscapes, May 24
Gelli Plate Mono Printing, June 11-July 16
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Two Special Events at the Olympia Timberland Library
Celebration of the Species: Pigeon Guillemots!
Join us for the final event in our Celebration of the Species series and learn about the pigeon guillemot-the seabird superstar of Puget Sound! Despite their importance, many locals have never heard of them-until now. Join Shannon Boldt with the Salish Sea Guillemot Network for our presentation where you'll get to know these charismatic birds, from their unique behaviors and striking personalities to their crucial place in the marine ecosystem.
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Olympia Timberland Library
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Tuesday, April 22 @ 6:30 pm
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Free
Urban Conservation Connection
Join us at the library to learn about urban conservation efforts with our friends from the Thurston Conservation District! Imagine the impact if every person took one tiny step to make the water, air, soil, and natural world we all share healthier, cleaner, better. Learn how your small actions can affect the greater world and help conserve our natural resources for generations to come.
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Olympia Timberland Library
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Wednesday, April 23 @ 6:30 pm
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Free
Two upcoming event at The Washington Center
Doktor Kabbom!
Doktor Kaboom! performs original interactive Science Comedy shows for audiences of all ages. Creatively blending theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration, Doktor Kaboom! keeps his crowds riveted with interest and rolling with laughter. Join Doktor Kaboom! for a sidesplitting journey of increasingly spectacular (and often successful) science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate, and entertain.
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Sat, Apr 26 at 10:30 AM (during Arts Walk)
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Price: $20-$22
Encanto Sing Along
Join us for an Encanto sing along! Belt out "We don't talk about Bruno" and "Surface Pressure" with your favorite Encanto characters. Experience the movie on our big screen and join Mirabel as she sets out to save the family and house. Local host Lauren O'Neill will be back to warm up the audience!
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Sat, Apr 26 at 7:00 PM (during Arts Walk)
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Price: $10-$12
Adult Creative Contemporary Dance
Join South Sound Dance Access for this fun opportunity for creative expression, strength building, and connection. Creative Contemporary Dance is an open-level dance class for adults of all ages drawing primarily upon Modern and Contemporary Dance techniques. In this class we will learn fundamentals of modern dance technique and dance composition concepts. We'll learn fun routines each week and have opportunities to create dances together! Instructor: South Sound Dance Access
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Every Monday from 04/14-05/12 at The Olympia Center (222 Columbia St, Olympia WA 98501)
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South Sound Dance Access
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$49 for entire class series
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Learn more & Register
Beatles vs. Stones Tribute Show Returns to the Washington Center
The critically-acclaimed Beatles vs. Stones - A Musical Showdown production will be returning its highly-anticipated Summer Tour 2025 to the Washington Center Main Stage on Thursday, July 31 at 7:30 pm
For the past decade with more than 2200 performances across the country and abroad, this unforgettable production has been delighting audiences with their talent, warmth, humor and passion for the music of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. A critic for the Los Angeles Times called it "the most unique tribute show in decades."
The show pits Rolling Stones tribute band Jumping Jack Flash and rival Brit boys Abbey Road in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance.
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Thursday, July 31 at 7:30 pm.
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Tickets are $35- $65, plus ticket fees and may be purchased online at www.washingtoncenter.org by phone at (360)753-8586 or at the Theatre Box Office Tuesday through Saturday noon - 5:00 p.m and two hours before performances.
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The Washington Center is located at 512 Washington St. SE in Olympia, WA 98501.
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The show is appropriate for all ages
Newsletter Roundup
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Call for Performers: Music in the Park 2025
We are now accepting performer applications for the beloved Music in the Park summer concert series, returning to downtown Olympia in July 2025.
This free, family-friendly concert series draws hundreds-sometimes thousands-of music lovers to Sylvester Park and Port Plaza to enjoy the rhythm, energy, and talent of the Pacific Northwest. It's the perfect way to soak up summer vibes, support local music, and kick off your weekend in style.
Concerts will be held on Wednesdays: July 9, 16, 23 (Sylvester Park), and July 30 (Port Plaza).
The Music in the Park selection committee encourages artists from Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and the surrounding areas to apply-especially cover and tribute bands.
This is a fantastic opportunity to share your sound with a lively and diverse audience in the heart of downtown Olympia.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Museum Project Coordinator and Site Manager
The Olympia Arts + Heritage Alliance (AHA) seeks a part-time staff person to manage events and projects in a downtown museum location, as well as coordinate volunteers and assist in fundraising and grant-writing.
AHA is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2018 to create a museum that will be a destination and gathering place for learning about, reflecting on, and becoming inspired by Olympia's uniquely rich heritage. Our goal is to establish a permanent museum in downtown Olympia, supported by a vibrant organization committed to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and providing access to Olympia's art, cultures, and history.
In June 2025, AHA will open an interim museum location in downtown Olympia, offering exhibits, events, and programs with limited hours through spring 2026. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and engaging person to lead ongoing programming in arts, history, and culture. The position has potential to grow as the museum evolves, with plans for a more permanent location by mid-2026.
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Learn more
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Apply by: Starting May 1, 2025, reviewed weekly until filled.
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To Apply: Send a letter of interest, resume, and three references to info@olyaha.org
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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 ARCHDigest@ci.olympia.wa.us.
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
sjohnson@ci.olympia.wa.us
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