Registration for Fall Arts Walk 2026 Closes July 31!
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
Have you voted yet? Come down to Percival Landing July 1-31 to check out this year's sculptures and add your voice to the choice!
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.
Learn more & vote
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
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
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
Color Your Canvas Painting - Bohemian Moon, Aug 13
Intro to Watercolor Pencils, Aug 15
Art Journaling, Aug 22
Casting Colorful Glass Fish Workshop, Aug 22
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Where East Meets West: A Musical Journey, a Cultural Exchange and Workshop-Style Performance
Experience a breathtaking fusion of cultures like never before! Join us for an extraordinary day of musical exchange, bringing together the vibrant rhythms of the West and the soul-stirring melodies of Vietnam.
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July 25, from 10 am to 3 pm
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Liên Hoa Temple (1211 Wilson Street NE, Olympia 98506)
Admission is free! Bring family, friends, and an open heart to celebrate community, culture, and the universal language of music:
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Mukana Marimba plays traditional and contemporary music from Zimbabwe and beyond. Both upbeat and soulful, our music appeals to listeners of all ages.
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Đàn Tranh (Zither): Elegant, cascading melodies that capture the heart of Vietnamese tradition.
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Đàn Kìm (Moon Lute): Deep, resonant tones full of poetic expression.
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Guitar Phím Lõm: A uniquely modified Vietnamese guitar playing soulful, traditional scalloped-fret melodies.
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Đàn Bầu (Monochord): The hauntingly beautiful, signature single-string sound of Vietnam.
Hidden Layers: Women's Undergarments and How They've Shaped Ladies' Liberties
Women's underwear has long reflected society's views on modesty, femininity, and beauty. From historic styles that restricted the female form to the more liberating fashions of today, women's undergarments have been symbols of both oppression and empowerment.
In this talk, explore how comfort, freedom, and function in women's undergarments mirrored broader social changes. We ask why there were so many people throughout history who had their panties in a bunch over the drawers in women's drawers. And we pull back the layers of satin and silk to see how the evolution of women's underwear parallels our ongoing struggle for gender equality.
This program is supported as part of the Humanities WA Speakers Bureau.
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Saturday, July 25, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
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Lacey Timberland Library, 500 College Street SE, Lacey WA 98503
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Learn more
Vocal Workshops with The Olympia Peace Choir
Two free vocal workshops. 2026-27 Choral Season
Monday, August 10, 2026, 7-8 pm. Finding Your Voice. An evening of vocal play to explore your voice's particular range, strengths and colors.
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Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia.
Monday, August 17, 2026, 7-8 pm. The Joys of Singing Together. In this follow up to the previous workshop, we'll explore basic ensemble technique and the many ways that singing together is good for you.
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Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia.
Come give The Olympia Peace Choir a try! We would also like to announce the beginning of our choir season with two free open rehearsals. These open "welcome" rehearsals are an opportunity for any singer of any ability to "try us on"!
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Monday, September 14, 2026, 7-9 pm.
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Monday, September 21, 2026, 7-9 pm.
Possibly//Maybe: A Bjork-Themed Outdoor Circus Show
Come experience wonderfully weird circus in collaboration with music from one of the world's most gloriously inventive musicians! This all-ages show features some of your favorite local aerialists performing their hearts out to songs that will take you on a journey exploring community: what makes it possible, challenging, and necessary in trying times.
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Saturday, August 1
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Two Outdoor shows starting at 7pm and 9pm, in Olympia's Eastside neighborhood.
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Bring a blanket or chair and all your besties to the field next to Capitol Vision Church (1775 Yew Ave NE, near the intersection of Yew & Lybarger).
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Suggested donation $20-$30.
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Thanks to Sparrow Studios and The Brotherhood Lounge for sponsoring this event!
2nd Annual Tree Hugging Fest
Join our 2nd outdoor community celebration of our glorious trees with friends and family of all ages. Listen to storytellers and watch dancers move to the music of trees. Trees sing in real time using a device called Plants Play that converts the tree's electric signals into notes; the music will be amplified for dancers and audience alike. FREE. Donations welcome and appreciated (T-shirts available for $20 donation - email julie@walkaboutwithjulie to learn more).
4 pm - Tree stories: Listen to the words of storytellers sharing heartfelt stories about trees and nature (Maggie Lott, Tobey Ishii Anderson, Bowen Lee)
4:45 pm - Dancing: Dancers improvise to the music of the cedar tree (Lauren Thompson, Das Biest: Sophie Marie Schatz, Hazel Garden, V. Saverna)
5 pm - Ending with a joyful all-community dance to the music of the singing Cedar tree!
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Sunday August 23rd 4-5:30
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Garfield Elementary School Woodruff Park 1500 Harrison NW
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Cost Free
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Northwest Olympia Neighborhood Association & Walkaboutwithjulie.com
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Learn more: walkaboutwithjulie.com
Weekly Summer Friday Walks: Can you Hear the Trees Talking?
Listening to the Wisdom of Old Growth Forests
Fridays 10-11:30 am (or upon request) at Squaxin Park $25/pp adult $10/child Email names and size of group to julie@walkaboutwithjulie for meeting place and confirmation. FYI, occasionally winds over 12 mph or a wedding or event makes parking challenging and we reschedule.
Oly Creative Coop Soft Opening Pop Up Market
Oly Creative Coop is hosting our second soft opening pop up market at 112 4th Ave E right next to Mcmenamins this weekend July 25-26 from 10am-5pm. Come see an assortment of local artists and makers and check out the space!
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July 25-26 from 10am-5pm
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112 4th Ave E right next to Mcmenamins
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RSVP or find more info HERE
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We're also still accepting some last minute vendors and the app can be found HERE
Olympia AHA Museum First Friday Olympia Music History Project and live interview with Mariella Luz
4-5:30pm: Meet and greet with Olympia Music History Project. Learn more about their work and explore artifacts related to Olympia's robust music history.
5:30-7pm: Live interview! Kelsey Smith will be interviewing Mariella Luz for the Olympia Music History Project digital archive. Mariella was the general manager for Olympia's K Records and founded the former venue, the Northern, and the Olympia All Ages project.
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Friday, Aug. 7, 4-7pm
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Olympia AHA Museum, 203 Columbia St. NW
Upcoming Classes at Community Print
Whole Cloth Patterning & Printing
In this class with Faith Hagenhofer of Hercules Farm and Cat's Paw Studio, students will design and carve a 3" x 3" print block, which they will use to handprint in a pattern on a square yard of fabric. All supplies, including plain cotton yardage, are included, but students are welcome to bring their own fabric.
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Instructor: Faith Hagenhofer
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Sunday, July 26, 10 am-4 pm with lunch break
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$110, payment plan available
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Learn more
Joyful Practice: Accounts of Wonder
Typewriters can be a portal to wonder-a way to slow down your writing process and find the thread of what you long to express.
Combining typewritten text with hand-drawn illustration can be a portal to cross-pollination, allowing your mind to draw new connections as you shift between the two creative modes.
In the sixteenth century, everyday citizens conveyed their experiences with celestial visions through accounts of wonder: broadsheets with a title, woodcut illustration, and an account of what the writer had witnessed.
In this two-hour workshop, we'll take inspiration from the form and consider how wonder shows up in our lives. We'll move through a series of creative prompts and each participant will create a page that combines visual and written language. Supplies on hand will include typewriters, pens, colored pencils, oil pastels, and other fun tools.
The goal of this workshop is playful exploration. All ages and experience levels are welcome. If you're called to this work, we welcome you.
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Instructors: Sarah Tavis and Jenn Berney
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Wednesday, July 29, 6-8 pm
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$35
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Learn more
Youth Gelli Print Camp
Discover the colorful world of Gelli printmaking! In this hands-on camp, young artists ages 10-14 will experiment with layers, textures, stencils, and found objects to create unique monoprints. Campers will explore creative techniques, develop their artistic skills, and turn their prints into finished artworks while having fun in the Community Print studio.
Instructor: Yvonne Kunz
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Wednesday, August 5 & Thursday, August 6, 1-3 pm both days
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$80
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Learn more
At Dr Wheelz Pad: the Music of Bert Wilson
On Sunday, August 9th, Dr Wheelz' Pad presents the music of Bert Wilson. The band includes Bob Meyer, visiting from New York, on drums and cymbals. Bob played with Bert for many years in New York and the Northwest. The fabulous pianist Randy Halberstadt and Bob's favorite bassist, Phillips Sparks, will join in, along with Michael Olson spicing it up with congas and percussion. Also Jim Pribbenow. One of Bert's best students, hot tenor saxophonist Nancy Curtis, will be fluting.
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That's Sunday, August 9th, at 7:30 at Dr Wheelz Pad.
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Please RSVP to [email protected] for the address and to let me know you're coming.
Catch Fireside Collective @ Ilk Lodge this Saturday!
Get ready for a high-energy night of new-grass, jam-grass, and foot-stomping originals as Fireside Collective comes to Ilk Lodge Brewing in downtown Olympia - presented by Ecstatic Sound Collective.
Known for their tight harmonies, adventurous improvisation, and genre-bending bluegrass roots, this Asheville, North Carolina-based band turns every show into a full-on musical journey.
Come grab a pint, bring your friends, snag some dinner, and settle in for an unforgettable evening of live music in the heart of Olympia.
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Saturday, July 25, 8pm
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Ilk Lodge Brewing, downtown Olympia
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Tickets $20
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All ages welcome - kids 15 and under are free.
Olympia Poetry Network July Reading
Featured poet: Bariah Rice
Bariah Rice is a Washington poet and graduate of The Evergreen State College, where she minored in creative writing. Her Muscogee Creek and Houma heritage informs much of her work, which explores ancestry, memory, and belonging. She is grateful to share her work with the Olympia Poetry Network.
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July featured poet and open mic
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Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 6:00-7:30 pm
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Reading live at Traditions, the Gathering Place
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5th & Water Street, downtown Olympia
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Open mic signup starts 5:30pm
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All are welcome.
Hummingbird Studio Art in the Park
We'll be hosting an open house from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., so feel free to stop by anytime. There will be fun, creative art activities, music, and dance for all ages, and we'd love to see you there! This free community event is generously sponsored by the City of Lacey and Inspire Olympia.
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Friday, July 24, 10am-2pm
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Woodland Creek Park - 6729 Pacific Ave, Lacey
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Free - No registration required.
Newsletter Roundup
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Community Accelerator Grant
ArtsFund and the Allen Family Philanthropies are partnering again in 2026 on the Community Accelerator Grant program. The program provides $10 million in unrestricted funding to Washington State arts and culture nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations, and tribal entities to organizations with budgets between $25,000 - $1,000,000.
Here are a few key details about the program:
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Application period: July 15, 2026, at noon through August 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM
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Grant awards: $2,500 to $25,000
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Resources available: An FAQ, eligibility guidelines, and a preview application are available in 10 languages: French, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
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Info session: A recorded session with captions available in 30+ translated languages is available now.
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Learn more
PM Manager Position
Blades of Change, a fiscally sponsored 501c3 is seeking a part-time PM. Our organization is funded by grants and donations. We are offering a 45-50 dollar an hour salary paid for with funds from a three year 4 Culture
grant. We have one more year of funding from 4 Culture left. A big part of this job is seeking out and applying for new funding sources. At this time the potential hire should expect to work an average of 5 hours a week except when we are doing an event. A typical event takes about 30 hours to plan. To see projects we have done in the past please visit: https://www.bladesofchange.com
If you are interested in applying please contact me through e-mail at [email protected]
Job Brief
We are seeking a part-time committed and passionate Art Nonprofit program Manager to oversee and
develop community- based arts programs. The ideal candidate will be responsible for program development, strategic planning and identifying and applying for potential funding opportunities. The Art Nonprofit manager will also be responsible for building partnerships with community organizations, promoting the organization's mission, and ensuring the successful execution of all art programs.
Responsibilities
• Developing, planning, and executing art programs, projects, and events according to the organization's missions and goals.
• Collaborating with artists, community leaders, donors, and other stakeholders to promote and support the organization's initiatives.
• Managing program budgets, monitoring expenses and seeking out and applying for new funding opportunities.
• Evaluate and assess the impact of arts programs on the community.
• Comply with the requirements laid out by granting organizations and fiscal sponsor. Blades of Change Founder will collaborate on all responsibilities.
Qualifications
• Experience in program management.
• Knowledge of the arts sector and grant writing.
• Strong project management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build relationships with community organizations and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in using computers ands related software.`
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Call for Walking Tour Guides!
Bring your enthusiasm and love of local art and history to the Olympia AHA Museum this summer for a gig as a walking tour guide for our downtown murals tour. No need to be an expert! We will provide a tour script and training. Tour guides will receive a percentage of ticket sales.
To be considered, send a resume and statement of interest to Ruth Kodish-Eskind, Exhibits and Programs Manager, at [email protected].
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!
Learn more and complete a Volunteer Interest Form at www.olyaha.org/volunteer.
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.
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
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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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