Celebrating 12 Years Supporting Local Artists, Musicians and Makers in Olympia.

Olympia Artspace Alliance is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization established in 2011 to create, foster and preserve affordable space for artists in Olympia. 

OAA’s first years were focused on assessing the feasibility of building and managing a new artist live-work facility in downtown Olympia. We collected important data on the space needs of local artists, through a broad-reaching survey in 2014 and other outreach; we also convened forums and briefings, built an expansive network, and learned from a variety of programs and projects elsewhere. 

In 2015 we determined that costs were prohibitive to proceed with a live/work project as originally envisioned. We then shifted our focus to other space needs of artists, forums for and about artists, and related advocacy. 

OAA fills a unique role in Olympia by focusing on the space needs of artists. We also provide a voice for artist, the arts, and creative space. We conduct an annual survey of artist studios in downtown Olympia; host forums on critical issues related to artists and the arts in Olympia; meet regularly with civic leaders, and represent artists in various advisory roles – including the City’s recently completed ArCH profile (arts, cultures and heritage); the City’s Downtown Strategy; Olympia’s Arts, Parks & Recreation Plan; and Annie’s Artist Studios and Annie’s Flats (with Thomas Architecture Studios and Urban Olympia Development).

OAA also applies for grant funding and support to create opportunities for and to compensate local artists. Since 2019, OAA supported 97 local artists and more than 1,000 student artists, providing more than $79,000 to support their work, including:

Artists on Board – paid 13 artists to create original works on boards covering downtown windows during the 2020 pandemic shutdown.

Art in Olympia Storefronts – paid 50 local artists to create and install exhibitions in the windows of The Goldberg Building at Capitol Way and Fourth, thanks to OlyFed. 

Space Grants - paid 14 space related grants to local artists in Thurston County.

Downtown Olympia Murals - paid 6 artists for their proposals, and fully funded 3 artists to create 3 Murals in Downtown Olympia in partnership with the PBIA (Parking Business Improvement Area). In addition, paid 2 mural restoration experts to repair and restore damaged murals throughout the downtown core.