Olympia Artspace Alliance

Together we are building a secure future for artists in Olympia. 

Thank you for supporting OAA and our mission: to preserve, develop, and advocate for affordable live, work, and exhibition space for artists in Olympia, Washington. Our local nonprofit is committed to paying artists, while also building a culture of entrepreneurship and access to the arts in Olympia.

By investing directly in OAA, you strengthen Olympia's cultural and economic fabric, developing opportunities for our artists to connect, create, and to accelerate their creative careers. 

We design and fund programs that directly support artists and that strengthen our creative economy. In 2025 our work: 

• Paid more than $6,000 directly to artists through our Art in Storefronts program, bringing new life to underused spaces and giving stipends to artists and teachers to support the development of new work (including student work!)
• Provided $13,000 two install new downtown murals, turning public walls into legacy pieces.
• Awarded $5,500 through 11 Space Grants of $500 each, fueling new projects and creative careers.
• Acted as fiscal sponsor for the Downtown Olympia Creative District to further build and strengthen our downtown creative economy.
• Hosted three artist "mingles," free gatherings that provide a platform for network and connection.

About the Olympia Artspace Alliance

OAA is a non-profit organization made possible through sponsorships, grants, and the generosity of individuals like you. If you feel moved to support our work, please consider making a tax-deductible donation during Give Local. We’re so grateful for your support! Every dollar we raise during Give Local will help grow our 2026 programming goals including:

• Art in Olympia Storefronts, which curates four high-quality art installations in downtown vacant storefronts throughout the year. Selected artists receive stipends for their work and professional support during the install process. We also work directly with teachers to support and share student work every winter.
• Space Grants, our low-barrier grant making program that provides ten $500 grants to local artists (of all mediums) to assist with the cost of studio space. The application requires minimal personal information, a short statement about how the artist hopes to use the funds, and asks for examples of their work. Thanks to secured funding, we will be awarding two rounds of grants in 2026! 
• Our Downtown Olympia Mural Program, an annual open-call for mural ideas that awards stipends to local artists to install their mural downtown. This project has been a past partnership with the PBIA and has installed five murals, and repaired dozens of existing murals and art installations.
• Seasonal artist mingles that provide no-cost opportunities to connect and grow the Downtown Olympia Arts scene at local businesses and venues. 
• Fiscal Sponsorship and support for the Downtown Olympia Creative District think tank. In 2024 our board worked with a local artist to develop branding for our Creative District, hired a skilled artist and facilitator to project manage outreach and engagement, and held a fall convening to imagine what's possible for Olympia. This year we are acting as Fiscal Sponsor for the DOCD, which is building it's own board and work plan for 2026.

Thank you to our major supporters and funding partners at Inspire Olympia, the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, the ArtsWA Community Accelerator Fund, and to the Freas Foundation for their generous gift and trust to grow our grant making program. 

If you interested in learning more about OAA, or would you like to discuss making a larger gift please send us an email at info@olympiaartspace.org. 

You can also visit our website at Olympia Artspace Alliance on our website at olympiaartspace.org and follow us on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/olympiaartspacealliance.