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LAST DAY: Apply now to be on the 2026 Arts Walk cover! Have you participated in Arts Walk within the past two years? Do you have 5 images of current work? Consider applying for the Arts Walk cover! Each year two artists are selected and commissioned by the City to create a new, original work of art to be featured in the Arts Walk poster and other event publications. One artist is highlighted for each the fall and spring events. Artists are selected through a call for art that typically takes place in the fall for the following year. Selected artists receive $750 to create a new work that is featured on the Arts Walk cover. APPLY TODAY online by November 17, 2025 at 11:45pm. City Seeks to Fill Vacancies on Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees The City of Olympia is seeking community members interested in being appointed by the City Council to serve on City advisory committees. Advisory committees provide a way for residents to share opinions and perspectives, study issues, develop recommendations, and provide advice from the community perspective to the Olympia City Council. The advisory committee application period is now open and runs until Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, at 5 p.m. Membership terms generally run for three years, with appointments beginning on April 1 and ending March 31. Applications are being accepted for vacancies and upcoming vacancies on the following committees serving the City of Olympia: The Arts Commission, The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, The Cultural Access Program Advisory Board, Design Review Board, Heritage Commission, Olympia Metropolitan Park District (OMPD) Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC), Planning Commission and Utility Advisory Committee. Learn more Application link for the Advisory Body recruitments: https://form.jotform.com/252395220070145 Earth Friendly Giving for the Holidays Join session 4 of the Climate Challenge: Earth Friendly Giving for the Holidays. The holidays can be times of high resource consumption. We will discuss earth friendly ways of giving and celebrating, greenhouse reduction goals for the new year and also hear briefly from a speaker about the problems with cruise travel for leisure. We also have time to simply connect with each other around these issues as we are building a community of resilience. Thursday Dec 4th at 6:30 at Good Shepherd Church (or join by zoom - register here) Supported by Inspire Olympia 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 All About Guitar Chords, Dec 4 Discover Voice Overs!, Dec 9 Visual Arts, & Crafts Dotted Christmas Ornaments, Nov 18-25 Zen Ink Holiday Cards, Nov 22 Watercolor Holiday Cards, Dec 1- 8 Sumi-e Holiday Cards, Dec 2 -9 Life Drawing, Dec 3 - 17 Ribbon and Chopstick Journal, Dec 4 Prayer Flags, Dec 6 Holiday Fused Glass Ornament Workshop, Dec 7
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Snow Queen at Olympia Family Theater
A magical adventure for all ages! The Snow Queen is a whimsical and heartfelt adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, brought to life by Olympia Family Theater in collaboration with the imaginative artists of String and Shadow Puppet Theater.
Join brave young Gerda as she journeys through enchanted landscapes, encounters curious creatures, and discovers the power of friendship in her quest to rescue her best friend from the icy grip of the mysterious Snow Queen. This visually stunning production blends original storytelling, puppetry, and theatrical wonder to warm hearts on even the coldest winter day.
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Learn more & find tickets
Magic Curtain Morning at Olympia Family Theater
Our newly imagined Daytime Show series is an interactive theater experience created especially for little ones and their families. Full of magic, laughter, sound cues, and gentle surprises, our Magic Curtain Morning original stories invite children to join the adventure and discover the light that shines when we're brave together. Join us for a sweet and silly morning of live theater made just for little ones! Whether it's your child's first theater experience or a favorite tradition, we welcome you to come be part of the magic!
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Dec 11, 12, 13, 2025 | Jan 7, 8, 9, 2026 | Feb 12, 13, 14, 2026 | April 16, 17, 18, 2026 | June 18, 19, 20, 2026
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Doors open: 10:15am Showtime: 10:30am
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$5 per person at the door only
SPSCC Invites Community to Lumination: Light as Medicine
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) invites the community to its upcoming event, Lumination: Light as Medicine, a collaboration between SPSCC's Art Department and Mental Health Counseling Services with support from the Office of Student Life and the SPSCC Mental Health Promotion Committee.
Lumination offers a unique opportunity to explore the connection between light and human health through art and science. Visitors will experience a gallery showcasing student artwork that examines how light influences wellness, including sculptures created in the classrooms of SPSCC Art Professors Joe Batt and Liza Brenner and poetry from the classroom of SPSCC English Professor Kathleen Byrd. Alongside the art exhibits, faculty from the SPSCC's Mental Health Counseling Services will lead interactive sessions that explain how human biology evolved in relationship with sunlight and why light is essential for maintaining health. Attendees will learn about SPSCC's new clinical-grade light therapy devices, available for check-out at the SPSCC Library to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and experience demonstrations of alternative devices such as a light visor that delivers blue-enriched light.
Ross Artwohl, LICSW, Counseling Faculty at SPSCC's Mental Health Counseling Services, shared the importance of this event: "Light plays a critical role in our mental and physical health. Many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder during the darker months. Understanding how to use light to maintain health allows us to take proactive steps to feel and function better. Lumination is about education, creativity, and giving our community tools to thrive."
The event will also feature fun activities and giveaways, including light-themed items and a chance to win a TUO Circadian Smart Bulb & Shadeless Lamp Set designed by University of Washington scientists to help treat SAD. Lumination is an engaging way to discover how light can serve as medicine for the brain and body while enjoying creative works from SPSCC students and faculty.
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The event will take place on Tuesday, November 18, and Wednesday, November 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on SPSCC's Olympia Campus in Building 27, Room 119.
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Demonstrations and giveaways will be featured from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
Devon Damonte Art Show at Bar Francis Coffee
Now showing through December 3 at Bar Francis coffee in downtown Olympia, 29 Cyanotypes by Devon Damonte. Artwork on display includes selections from the Huckleberry Elegies series, and other pieces relating to idiosyncratic interests and the abundant nature and culture of our town. Bar Francis is at 110 Franklin St NE between 4th & State, and is open daily 8am-2pm.
Aisha Harrison | Bainbridge Island Museum Solo Exhibition
Porous Body Opening Reception
Experience Aisha Harrison's first solo exhibition, Porous Body, first-hand at their opening reception on Saturday, November 22nd, from 3 PM - 5:30 PM.
Porous Body uses clay, bronze, paper collage, and mixed media to explore life cycles, both human and in nature, and invites you to experience the world through Harrison's mixed-race, queer, mothering lens.
Also on view are pieces newly rotated from our Permanent Art Collection.
This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
Capital City Pride's 3rd Annual Queersgiving
Bring a blanket! Bring some food to share! Bring a Queer! Onsies encouraged.
Celebrate the season with Capital City Pride at our 3rd Annual Queersgiving, a warm and welcoming gathering designed to bring our community together. Settle into a cozy space, wrap up in your favorite blanket, and enjoy a lineup of LGBTQIA2S+ holigay films as we relax and connect with one another.
Guests are encouraged to bring food to share, but you're just as welcome to come exactly as you are. We'll have complimentary pie and non-alcoholic beverages available throughout the event. Onesies are joyfully encouraged-because comfort and queer cheer are what Queersgiving is all about.
Join us for a night of community, comfort, and celebration!
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Sunday November 23rd, 2025, 6:30pm -9:30pm
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Please vote online in the comments of our social media campaign
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TLC - Friendship Hall - 220 Union Ave SE, Olympia, WA
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FREE
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AGE: 18+
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ADA: Wheelchair accessible
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Learn more: Facebook, Website
Newsletter Roundup
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Media Island International Seasonal Newsletter Fall 2025
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Emerald City Music November Newsletter
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News of the Week in Downtown Olympia!
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You Feed the Tree, We Feed the People ❤️
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Olympia Artspace Alliance: Because of You, Art Thrives in Olympia
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Help Harlequin Reach Our Give Loval Goal by November 21st!
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The Spark: What's New at Lacey MakerSpace
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Snapshot - November 2025 Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
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Olympia Symphony Orchestra $5 Challenge (For Local Kids!)
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4Culture Public Art Calls for Artists + November 2025
Each month we send out artist calls managed by 4Culture, as well as a selection of calls submitted to us by organizations around the world. Visit our website to see all open calls, grants, jobs, and other opportunities.
Call for Art
The Community Farm Land Trust is seeking artists for art submissions for the cover of the 2026 Fresh from the Farm Guide (FFTFG). The FFTFG is an 88 page publication full of all your food and farm needs. This guide supports the work that our regional farmers are doing and showcases the best ways to purchase, connect, and find their products and services while highlighting the diversity of our local farms and the richness of our agricultural lands in the South Sound. We have various guides for Products and Services, CSAs, Farmers Markets, and Food Banks while trying to shine a light on important nutrition assistance programs and more! We produce our guide annually each year and distribute in a four county region that includes Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, and Thurston counties. We plan to distribute 14,000-15,000copies in our four county region in 2026.
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Learn more
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Our in-kind compensation includes recognition on our website (including a full artist bio and your website link), social media, newsletter, and space for a small artist bio in the printed guide as well!
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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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