Black History Month Event: Dismantling Systematic Racism in Education
with Keynote Speaker: Dr. Joy DeGruy, Author and Educator
This in-person event is all about digging deep into how systematic racism affects our schools and what we can do to create fairer, more inclusive learning spaces. Connect with others who are passionate about change, share ideas, and be part of a movement pushing for real progress.
Don't miss out on this chance to learn, discuss, and make a difference together!
-
February 20, 2026, 9:00 am to 3 pm
-
Washington Center for the Performing Arts - 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia
-
This event is free and open to the public. Hosted by The Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture. Supported by City of Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation.
-
Learn more and reserve tickets
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
Yes, You Can Play the Ukulele Part 2, Feb 11 - Mar 11
Swing: Dance Through the Decades, Feb 20 - Mar 20
Basic American Ballroom Waltz - Part 1, Feb 20 - Mar 20
Guitar II, Feb 26 - Mar 12
RakasaFit Core Fitness Belly Dance, Mar 9-Apr 27
Intermediate/Advanced Belly Dance, Mar 9-Apr 27
Hawaiian Dance, Mar 11-Apr 22
Advanced Hawaiian Dance, Mar 11-Apr 22
Discover Voice Overs! Mar 18
All About Guitar Chords, Mar 19
Visual Arts, & Crafts
Mimic the Masters, Feb 4-25
Life Drawing, Feb 4-18
Painting with Water Soluble Colored Pencils, Feb 5-26
Dotting (Dot Painting), Feb 7
Traveling Altar, Feb 14
Recycled Art (Collage), Feb 17-Mar 10
Palette Knife Painting with Acrylics, Feb 21
Zen Ink, Feb 28
Painting People and Faces 2, Feb 28-Apr 4
Glass Botanical Tray Workshop, Feb 28
|
|
Leonor R. Fuller Gallery Hosts Collaboration Installation with Visiting Artist Jonathan Happ
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) art students in Professor Liza Brenner's painting class, in collaboration with visiting artist Jonathan Happ, will present a special exhibition at the Leonor R. Fuller Gallery from February 23 to March 20, 2026. The opening reception will be held on Friday, February 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
This collaborative installation is the culmination of a multi-session workshop where students experience all aspects of a professional art project, including planning, production, installation, and presentation. The exhibition highlights the creative synergy between SPSCC students and a professional artist, offering a unique opportunity for hands-on learning and artistic growth.
The Olympia Peace Choir Concert
The Olympia Peace Choir presents its annual home concert, THE ROAD HOME. Come spend an evening listening to our songs of peace and joy.
-
Monday, February 23, 8:15 pm
-
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, 1925 Boulevard Rd. SE, Olympia 98501.
-
Our concerts are free and family friendly. Donations cheerfully accepted.
ArtsWA Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards
Join ArtsWA for a landmark celebration honoring 60 years of the Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards, Washington State's highest honor in the arts, culture, and heritage.
Unlike past years, this anniversary event includes no new nominations, creating space to honor the enduring impact of those who have shaped Washington's creative legacy. One new award-the Arts Champion Award, directly designated by the Governor and the Arts Commission-will be presented to Sub Pop Records.
The event will feature live performances by Jessica Dobson of the Seattle band Deep Sea Diver, and part of the Sub Pop family, the Indigenous band Khu.éex', the all-Veteran ensemble MusicWorks4Veterans, and the celebrated mariachi group Mariachi Huenachi.
-
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
-
Kenneth J. Minnaert Center in Olympia at South Puget Sound Community College
-
Learn more and get tickets
Coming up at the Olympia Timberland Library
Pilot Magazine Presents: Poetry and Music
Pilot Magazine brings together an eclectic group of local artists to present new and old works at the Olympia library. Join us for an evening featuring: Larry Eickstaedt, Lucien Spect, beni erms, Kendra Hemlock, Reid Urban and Valerie Warren. Pilot Magazine is a locally created and produced, Arts & Culture magazine in South Puget Sound.
-
Wednesday, Feb. 11th 6:30pm
-
Olympia Timberland Library 313 8th Ave SE Olympia, WA 98501
-
Free!
-
Learn more
Should Humans Exist? : The Musical
Should Humans Exist? is a musical following a cast of underdogs as they learn, change, and have a family-friendly good time-perhaps even saving the world, against all odds, using humanity's greatest power. Join us at the library for an evening of local, free, original theater!
-
Monday, Feb. 23rd
-
Olympia Timberland Library 313 8th Ave SE
-
Learn more
SPSCC Theatre Collective Presents Single Black Female
The South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) Theatre Collective presents Single Black Female by Lisa B. Johnson at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Black Box from February 20 to March 1, 2026.
Directed by SPSCC alumna Raessa Patterson, the production explores the lives of two close friends-successful, single Black women-as they navigate love, identity, expectations, and the sometimes-absurd realities of modern womanhood. Through quick character shifts and sharp comedic perspectives, the actors bring to life an array of personalities and experiences that shape the women's world.
-
Admission is a suggested $12 donation at the door. SPSCC students, staff, and faculty are free.
-
More information, including performance dates and times, is available on the college's Arts & Entertainment Calendar.
Movies Coming Up at the Lacey Library
The Painted Screen - Frida Kahlo
2020 - 1 hour 30 minutes
Take a journey through the life of a true icon, discover her art, and uncover the truth behind her often-turbulent life. Making use of the latest technology to deliver previously unimaginable quality, we take an in-depth look at key works throughout her career. Using letters Kahlo wrote to guide us, this definitive film reveals her deepest emotions and unlocks the secrets and symbolism contained within her art. Exhibition on Screen's trademark combination of interviews, commentary and a detailed exploration of her art delivers a treasure trove of color and a feast of vibrancy. This personal and intimate film offers privileged access to her works, and highlights the source of her feverish creativity, her resilience, and her unmatched lust for life, politics, men and women. Delving deeper than any film has done before, engaging with world-renowned Kahlo experts, exploring how great an artist she was, discover the real Frida Kahlo.
-
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
-
Lacey Timberland Library, 500 College Street SE, Lacey WA 98503
-
Learn more
Punch-Drunk Love (R)
R ‧ 2002 ‧ Comedy/Romance ‧ 1h 35m
Paul Thomas Anderson's fourth film features Sandler as a lonely man with serious emotional issues. As he concocts a scheme involving frequent flier miles and copious amounts of pudding, he finds himself both falling prey to a phone-sex scam and falling in love with his sister's colleague.
"With its feverish, percussive soundtrack and bravura cinematography, is like a bolt from the blue, chock-full of unexpected delight." - Philadelphia Inquirer
-
Thursday, February 5, 2026 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
-
Lacey Timberland Library, 500 College Street SE, Lacey WA 98503
-
Learn more
Coming to the Washington Center
Silent Movie: Love, Luck, and Laughter: A Buster Keaton Double Feature
This Valentine's weekend, fall in love with the magic of silent cinema and live organ music. Featuring Buster Keaton's Seven Chances and The Three Ages. We welcome film fans of all ages to step back in time to revel in the authentically recreated sounds and nostalgia from times gone by. In Seven Chances, a man learns that he will inherit a fortune if he marries by 7PM that evening. The Three Ages shares love and romance through three historical ages: the Stone Age, the Roman Age, and the Modern Age.
-
Sun, February 15 at 2:00 PM
Comedy Underground featuring Kermet Apio
One night. Three comedians. Countless laughs. Join us for a whirlwind of hilarity featuring three distinct comedic styles that will take you from everyday absurdities to unexpected revelations. Whether you love observational humor, storytelling, or lightning-quick wit, this show delivers. Ages 18+. In Feb, Kermet Apio takes the stage! This Seattle-based comedy veteran has won The Great American Comedy Festival and Seattle International Comedy Competition. (Fun fact: He's been doing comedy longer than anything else, including his 1988 stint as Dishwasher of the Month at Sea-Tac Denny's.)
-
Thu, February 26 at 7:30 PM
Color Charts Workshop with Nancy Romanovsky
Artists serious about mastering color understand the transformative value of creating color charts. This workshop will guide you through the systematic process of building charts with value gradations for the colors in your palette, enabling you to achieve a deeper mastery of color. This exercise, inspired by Richard Schmid's Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting, will deepen your understanding of your palette and prepare you to advance as a painter.
In this hands-on workshop, you'll:
-
Learn how to systematically mix colors and create value gradations.
-
Discover the unique characteristics of each color: transparency, staining power, temperature shifts, drying times, and finish (glossy or matte).
-
Build confidence in your palette, gaining knowledge that will accelerate your painting skills.
While we may not complete all the charts during the workshop, you'll leave equipped with blank charts and the knowledge to finish them independently.
How Much The Heart Can Hold at Harlequin Productions
Back by Cupid's demand! In celebration of Valentine's Day, the Northwest Playwrights Alliance presents a one-night-only performance of How Much the Heart Can Hold, starring three real-life couples.
Kathy Dorgan directs an all-star cast in this romantic evening curated and written by local playwright Bryan Willis and Linda Kalkwarf. Appropriate for all ages. Bring your sweetheart. Better yet, bring them a love poem and we'll read it at the top of Act II!
"Share the LOVE" Valentine Carnival
Takes Over Friday the 13th with Three Floors of Romance, Revelry, and Rhythm at the Olympia Eagles Club
This Valentine's season, love gets playful, immersive, and just a little bit mysterious. Share the LOVE, a one-night Valentine-themed carnival, invites the public to celebrate connection, creativity, and community with three floors of fun packed into one unforgettable evening.
Designed as a whimsical, multi-sensory experience, Share the LOVE blends the nostalgia of a carnival with the pulse of a late-night dance party. Guests can wander through art installations and glowing light shows, test their luck at carnival games, and stroll through a dreamy Tunnel of Love.
Music anchors the night with back-to-back soulful DJs setting the vibe across the floors, leading up to a surprise live band performance in the ballroom. Whether you're here to dance, sing, flirt, or people-watch, there's something for every kind of Valentine.
Event highlights include: Three floors of immersive entertainment, Carnival treats and a full bar, Dancing and Karaoke, Carnival games and interactive art installations, Light show and Tunnel of Love experience, Surprise band in the ballroom
This unique Valentine carnival is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, welcoming couples, friends, singles, and curious hearts alike. Check out the Eagles Club, learn about membership and come dressed for romance, mischief, or pure self-expression- be ready to share the love. Love is in the air-come play in it!
-
What: Share the LOVE - Valentine Carnival and Membership Drive
-
When: Friday, February 13 | 5:00pm-11:00pm
-
Who: Open to the Public | All Ages until 9:00pm
-
Where: Olympia Eagles Club, 805 4th Ave E
The Washington Center & Ballet Northwest Present
2026 Olympia Dance Festival!
The Washington Center and Ballet Northwest are thrilled to announce the return of Olympia Dance Festival on February 28 at 7:00pm. The 2026 Olympia Dance Festival features eighteen dance companies - a record number of participants for the festival!
Created in 2010, this annual festival started small with just a few groups and has grown into a competitive juried application process and performance that regularly sells out. Over 200 dancers from eighteen groups from throughout the region will participate this year. The festival features six-minute (or less) pieces showcasing an incredible variety of dance genres.
Monday at the Eagles -- Eugenie Jones
Eugenie Jones is a Seattle-based singer and songwriter described by Paris Move magazine as "One of the most beautiful voices in the United States". She is a two-time Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year, the first vocalist to receive Earshot's Album of the Year, an inductee in the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame, and the recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association's Jazz Hero award for her altruistic work combining jazz legacy events that benefit nonprofit service organizations.
-
Monday, February 2nd
-
The Eagles Social Room, 4th and Plum, 7 - 9:30pm
-
$15 - $35 suggested
-
all ages welcome until 9pm
Newsletter Roundup
|
|
United Churches of Olympia is searching for artists to apply for a Contemporary Art Commission
This request is from the United Churches of Olympia. We are commissioning a work of art that demonstrates our congregation's values as a place where Spirituality and Justice meet. We are interested in a contemporary, 2-dimensional work reflecting that we are an inclusive spiritual community that welcomes all people.
Call to Artists
The Olympia Art League is organizing their 78th Annual Open Fine Arts Juried Show. The venue is at Olympia's Community Center in downtown Olympia Washington. The Juried Show is paired with Olympia's Spring Arts Walk celebration. This will be a collection of 70+ two dimensional fine art pieces selected by Jen Evenhus, our Show Judge.
Last chance to submit to TCMoFA's 2026 Spring open call: CHRYSALIS.
While undergoing transformation some insects protect themselves with a golden (chryso from the Greek) shield. As all things transit from one state to another it can be helpful to throw up a shield, to mask ourselves or our charges in the face of danger. While a time for emergence must inevitably come, the chrysalid stage is a moment of respite and transition, private and contemplative, and ultimately metamorphic. We eagerly await your interpretation of the chrysalis.
This call is open to artists working across all mediums, including but not limited to visual art, performance, music, new media, old media, written word, and more. The call is open to artists residing in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Please note we require all artists to arrange the drop-off and pick-up of their art within our scheduled time frame- we are unable to accommodate shipping or long-term storage. To help offset the costs associated with participation all selected artists are offered a stipend of $50.
We are accepting submissions of up to 3 pieces from each artist.
-
submission deadline: February 6th, 2026 11:59pm
-
art drop off: March 7th and 8th
-
exhibition dates: March 13th through April 25th
-
location: 120 Olympia AVE NE, Olympia, WA 98501
-
SUBMIT HERE
Olympia Zine Fest Vendor Applications are Open!
Vendor apps are open now until Feb 23 @ 11:59pm!
Fill out this application if you want to table at Olympia Zine Fest this year: tinyurl.com/ozf26app
The tabling expo will be Saturday, May 30 from 11am to 4pm at the Olympia Center (222 Columbia St NW). Masks are required and will be provided.
Applicants will be notified by the end of March. Your table fee is expected promptly after notification in order to secure your spot.
|
|
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.
|
|
Contact
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program Manager
Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
360.709.2678
[email protected]
|
|
|
|
