Performing & Visual Arts in the Tri-Cities Washington Region
Introduction
Information about art councils, guilds and galleries, music, drama, theatre, dance, films, and event calendars is provided in this section with an emphasis on the non-profit organizations in Tri-Cities Washington and other nearby communities in Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon.Information is arranged by community in the following order: Tri-Cities, Dayton, Hermiston, Moses Lake, Palouse, Pendleton, Prosser, Sunnyside, Toppenish, Walla Walla, and Yakima.
Note: If you are looking for acoustic, blues, Christian, jazz, rock, metal, and alternative music groups and venues in the Tri-Cities then check out the Musicians & Venues section.
Tri-Cities
Richland Players Theatre
Academy of Children's Theatre
Academy of Children's Theatre (ACT) was created in 1994 to provide dramatic arts instruction and performances geared especially for children.
Allied Arts Association
The Allied Arts Association and gallery provides art development, awareness and education for the Mid-Columbia region, including the cities of Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and surrounding areas.
Art Gallery at WSU Tri-Cities
The Art Gallery at WSU Tri-Cities is located in room 102 of the Consolidated Information Center (CIC) on the WSU-TC Campus and features over a half dozen new exhibits each year.
Battelle Film Club
The Battelle Film Club is devoted to bringing quality cinema entertainment to the Tri-Cities. Small, independent off-Hollywood and foreign films, which do not have a wide distribution, are shown.
Battelle Performing Arts Business Center
The Battelle Performing Arts Business Center is dedicated to improving coordination, collaboration, and cooperation among the non-profit performing arts groups of the Mid-Columbia area. The Center also houses the offices of the Mid-Columbia Symphony and Washington East Opera.
Broadway Shows
Broadway shows and more are held several times each year at the Toyota Center. See TicketMaster for the calendar of events.
Camerata Musica
Camerata Musica has been bringing a tradition of chamber music to the Tri-Cities by presenting classical music by solo musicians and small ensembles in an intimate setting.
Carmike 12
Carmike 12 (Kennewick) shows several films throughout the year (scroll to the bottom of the page for the current film feature).
Columbia Basin College Arts Center
The Columbia Basin College Arts Center offers a variety of theatrical and music performances.
Columbia Chorale
Columbia Chorale is a community choir that has been entertaining the Tri-Cities for more than 40 years.
Columbia River Chordsmen
The Columbia River Chordsmen deliver performances in original American art-form called "barbershop".
Columbia River Cowboy Gathering & Music Festival
The Columbia River Cowboy Gathering Foundation (CRCGF) sponsors the annual three day Cowboy Get Together & Music Festival in April. There are multiple performance stages, food, western singers and cowboy poets, poetry & music contests, open mic segments, vendors, and big country stars on stage!
Community Concerts of the Tri-Cities
Community Concerts of the Tri-Cities has been bringing world class entertainment to the Columbia Basin Region for over 60 years. Under reciprocity agreements, season ticket holders can attend concerts in Moses Lake, Sunnyside, and Wenatchee.
Desert Thistle Pipe Band
The Desert Thistle Pipe Band is a community pipe band consisting of about 14 pipers and about 9 drummers. The band holds a concert for the community each February that features the band, dancing, solo piping, and guest bands such as Skweez the Weezle.
Desert Winds Flute Choir
The Desert Winds Flute Choir is a group of ten musicians who play the entire family of flutes (bass, alto, C flute, and piccolo). They play light classical with some pops, jazz, and folk music thrown in and perform around the Tri-Cities at festivals, farmer’s markets, etc. Contact Andrea McMakin at (509) 372-6013 (weekdays) for more information.
Esvelt Gallery
The Esvelt Gallery has a 30-year history of operating on the campus of Columbia Basin College. The Gallery acts as a focal point for ideas presented in all manner of artistic styles, which operate on both intellectual and tangible levels.
International Folk Dancers of Richland
The International Fold Dancers of Richland has been around for over 50 years. This group performs traditional folk dances from the Philippines, South America, Europe, Japan, and more. If you are interested in joining this group then attend one of their meetings on Thursdays from 7:30 to 8 p.m. at the Richland Community Center. For more information, send an email message to Gretchen Makison.
Mid-Columbia Bluegrass Music Association
The Mid-Columbia Bluegrass Music Association is affiliated with the Mid-Columbia Traditional Arts and Music Association. The members play and listen to folk music, blues, old time Appalachian, fiddle tunes, but mostly Bluegrass. In addition, they host an open acoustic music jam every Tuesday and a Bluegrass jam on the first Thursday of the month.Each year they promote the Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival & Dutch Oven Rendezvous which takes place during the second week of June. See Scott Butner's photos of the 2009 Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival and 2008 Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival.
Mid-Columbia Brass Quintet
The Mid-Columbia Brass Quintet has performed in and around the Tri-Cities for 30 years. They play a variety of musical styles and have performed in public concerts, in churches, retirement homes and various other venues. For more information, send an email message to Donald Paul.
Mid-Columbia Mastersingers
Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, formerly Consort Columbia, is a premier regional choral ensemble presenting outstanding classical vocal performances of the highest level of choral music.
Mid-Columbia Regional Ballet
The mission of Mid-Columbia Regional Ballet is to foster and advance the art of ballet in its various forms in the Mid-Columbia region.
Mid-Columbia Symphony
The Mid-Columbia Symphony offers four concerts each season at the Three Rivers Convention Center.
Mid-Columbia Traditional Arts and Music Association
The Mid-Columbia Traditional Arts and Music Association fosters and promotes traditional arts and acoustic music (country, folk, old-time and bluegrass). The association has two chapters: Mid-Columbia Bluegrass Music Association and the Three Rivers Cast Iron Cookers. Association activities include a bluegrass concert in the spring and fall: the Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival & Dutch Oven Rendezvous and the Sacajawea Heritage Days.
RadCon 5B
Radcon 5B is a fan run Science-Fiction / Fantasy convention held each Presidents day weekend at the Red Lion Inn in Pasco.
Richland Light Opera
In the more than fifty years since their first performance, the Richland Light Opera Company has produced over ninety operas and musicals.
Richland Players
The Richland Players has offered a full season of live performances annually and without interruption for over 65 years.
Rolling Hills Chorus
The Rolling Hills Chorus of Sweet Adelines International deliver performances in original American art-form called "barbershop".
Skweez the Weezle
The Skweez the Weezle band performs Celtic music from slow airs to driving jigs and reels in traditional to progressive arrangements.
Sultana Dancers
The Sultana Dancers perform fusion style belly dance with influences from tribal, egyptian, folkloric and more. These dancers frequently team up with drummers from the Tri-Cities Drum Circle.
Three Rivers Dulcimer Society
The Three Rivers Dulcimer Society was formed in March 2003 to promote the playing and listening of Appalachian mountain dulcimers.
Three Rivers Folklife Society
The Three Rivers Folklife Society (3RFS) was organized in 1988 and is dedicated to promoting folk music in the Tri-Cities. They sponsor a coffee house the second Friday each month from September through May or June. In addition, they sponsor several concerts during the year and the annual Tumbleweed Music Festival that draws over 30 performers.
Tri-Cities Drum Circle
The Tri-Cities Drum Circle is a community drum circle serving Hand Drummers in and around the Tri-Cities area. They perform several gigs each year around the community. In addition, they often perform with the Sultana Dancers.
Tri-Cities Jazz Society
The Tri-Cities Jazz Society was formed in 1980 to support traditional jazz music. They are continuing to expand their presence in the Tri-City community by offering outstanding jazz concerts.
Tri-Cities Steel Band Association
The Tri-Cities Steel Band Association (TCSBA) endeavors to promote and educate youth in the performance of music influenced from Caribbean origins (reggae, soca, ska, and calypso music). This organization currently sponsors three performance bands: ‘Bahuru Marimba Band, OK2Botay Steel Band and Bram Bratá Steel Band. They also conduct instructional classes year round including summer camps.
Tri-City Independent/Fan Film Festival
The Tri-City Independent/Fan Film Festival (TCIF3) spotlights short films made by fans on limited budgets but unlimited imagination. The festival is held each October at the Battelle Auditorium in Richland. For more information, see natmansblog.blogspot.com.
White Bluffs Center for Quilting & Fiber Arts
The White Bluffs Center for Quilting & Fiber Arts is an organization of quilting, weaving, spinning and basketry groups located in Eastern Washington State. Partner organizations include: Desert Fiber Arts Guild, South Eastern Washington Quilters (SEW-Q) and the Tri-City Quilters' Guild.
Ye Merrie Greenwood Players
The Ye Merrie Greenwood Players sponsors the "Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire" each year with activities that include English country dancing, Renaissance dancing, puppets, singing, period instrumental music, and story telling. In addition, the Greenwood Players present "Mystery Dinners" set in various historical periods.
Tri-Cities Calendars of Events
- The Entertainer
- NWPR - Music & Culture
- Tri-Cities Arts Calendar
- Tri-CityHerald.com: performing arts and visual arts
Connell
Murals
Resident artists have graced the town with a visual feast of wall murals,
including Mei Ling’s Dragon, Where the Wild Things Are, The Cloudburst, and Harvest History.
Dayton
Liberty Theatre
The Touchet Valley Arts Council (TVAC) supports the Liberty Theatre which offers first run family oriented movies, foreign films, and live performances.
Hermiston
Hermiston Desert Arts Council
The Hermiston Desert Arts Council provides essential community art programs by growing their resources strategically through partnership and marketing.
Moses Lake
Outdoor Concert Summer Series
Central Basin Community Concerts
Central Basin Community Concerts are held from September through April in the Wallenstein Theatre at Big Bend Community College.
Columbia Basin Allied Arts
The Columbia Basin Allied Arts has been providing a wide variety of arts to a broad contingency of patrons since 1978. While a season of premiere performances are presented each year in the Wallenstein Theatre at Big Bend Community College, an extensive outreach program takes professional artists and art studies into Columbia Basin schools.
Palouse
Palouse Arts Council
The Palouse Arts Council represents approximately 1000 art and culture starved residents in Palouse Washington that neighbors both the University of Idaho and Washington State University.
Pendleton
Community College Theatre at BMCC
ArtsEast
The purpose of ArtsEast, also known as the Eastern Oregon Regional Arts Council, is to serve, facilitate and support the arts, artists and arts education in Eastern Oregon.
Betty Feves Memorial Gallery
The Betty Feves Memorial Gallery at Blue Mountain Community College is a non-profit exhibit space connecting emerging and established artists and their work with students, staff and the general public in Eastern Oregon.
Blue Mountain Community College Theatre
The mission of the Blue Mountain Community College Theatre is to entertain, enlighten, and educate the diverse community in and around Pendleton by producing plays.
Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts
The Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts provides educational, social and economic opportunities for Native Americans through artistic development.
Oregon East Symphony and Chorale
The Oregon East Symphony and Chorale provides a dependable source of live orchestral and choral music with special emphasis on youth educational opportunities.
Pendleton Center for the Arts
The Pendleton Center for the Arts offers fine arts exhibits, live music performances, arts education, and opportunities for purchasing hand-crafted items made by regional artists.
Pendleton Concert Association
For over 50 years, the goal of the non-profit Pendleton Concert Association has been to bring nationally and internationally known professional musicians and entertainers to the community by means of a subscription concert series.
Prosser
Princess Theatre
The Princess Theatre is a historical landmark in Prosser that has been completely renovated.
Valley Theater Company
The Valley Theater Company has been performing in the Yakima Valley since 1962. They perform in Prosser's historic Princess Theatre.
Southeast Washington & Northeast Oregon
Inland Northwest Musicians
Founded in 1999, Inland Northwest Musicians continues to offer fine orchestral and choral music and education opportunities to Eastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington. Inland Northwest Musicians is comprised of five performing ensembles. The Inland Northwest Orchestra and Inland Northwest Chorale are their premier ensembles. The Willow Creek Symphony, Willow Creek Singers and Wallowa Valley Orchestra are the youth/introductory preparatory ensembles.
Sunnyside
Lower Valley Community Concerts
Lower Valley Community Concerts are held from October through April at the Sunnyside High School Auditorium.
Toppenish
Clearing the Land
Toppenish Mural Gallery
The Toppenish Mural Society was formed in 1989 by painting an entire mural in one day to commemorate the Washington Centennial. Since 1989, over 70 murals have been painted on the sides of buildings that may be viewed by walking the streets in Toppenish. You can also take an online tour at the Toppenish Mural Gallery.
Walla Walla
ArtWalla's "Windows on the Past" Project
Arts Organizations and Galleries
Several arts organizations and galleries strive to make art accessible to the Walla Walla community and include:- ArtWalla, formerly the Blue Mountain Arts Alliance, focuses on the acquisition of public art and education about that art.
- Carnegie Art Center, a non-profit arts educational organization that was founded in 1971, provides art education and exhibitions to the greater Walla Walla community.
- The Clyde & Mary Harris Gallery, located on the Walla Walla University campus, concentrates on faculty, student, and regional shows that have special interests and professional qualities that may inspire both the campus and the community.
- The Donald Sheehan Gallery works to support the curriculum and to provide exhibitions that will enrich the artistic and cultural experiences of Whitman College and the community.
- Walla Walla Artist Alliance is a co-operative of artists from the Walla Walla area who have joined together to promote art.
Blue Mountain Chorus
Blue Mountain Chorus is one of more than 700 choruses in Sweet Adelines International. Chartered in 1974, Blue Mountain Chorus is a well- respected part of the Walla Walla Valley music scene.
Harper Joy Theatre
The Department of Theatre at Whitman College offers several theatrical performances at the Harper Joy Theatre.
Little Theatre of Walla Walla
The Little Theatre of Walla Walla has been producing "Good Plays, Done Well... Since 1944."
The Walla Walla Blues Society
The mission of The Walla Walla Blues Society (WWBS) is to foster an increased awareness of and appreciation for America's original and unique musical form known as the Blues by sponsoring live blues performances in Walla Walla.
Walla Walla Friends of Acoustic Music
Walla Walla Friends of Acoustic Music is an organization that supports and promotes acoustic music in many forms. They also support many forms of folk and traditional community dance.
Walla Walla Symphony & Walla Walla Choral Society
The Walla Walla Symphony, which is the oldest continuously operating symphony west of the Mississippi, offers concerts with the Walla Walla Choral Society.
Walla Walla Valley Bands
The Walla Walla Valley Bands consists of a full Concert Band, two Jazz Bands and several Chamber Ensembles including a Clarinet Choir, Sax Quartet and Trombone Gaggle. They perform traditional concerts at the Walla Walla Community College Performing Arts Center in December, March and May. In addition, the various groups and ensembles perform throughout the Walla Walla Valley during the year.
Walla Walla Calendar of Events
Yakima
Broadway at The Capital Theatre
Allied Arts of Yakima Valley
The Allied Arts of Yakima Valley is dedicated to the coordination and promotion of the arts in the Yakima Valley.
The Capital Theatre
The Capital Theatre is home to a variety of productions that are presented by numerous local organizations, such as the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, and proudly presents top-quality touring Broadway musicals.
Larson Gallery
The Larson Gallery is located on the campus of Yakima Valley Community College and defines itself as "In step with art and community." More than a half dozen exhibits are scheduled each year.
The Seasons
The Seasons, a non-profit organization, is responsible for organizing two major classical/jazz music festivals each year in the Spring and Fall at The Seasons Performance Hall which has quickly become a hotbed for jazz, latin, classical and world music with weekly programs at the highest international level.
The Warehouse Theatre Company
The Warehouse Theatre Company (WTC) has provided affordable live theatre to the Yakima Valley for almost sixty years. WTC produces five shows in an intimate 200 seat theatre at the Allied Arts Center -- originally a fruit warehouse!
Yakima Folklife Association
The Yakima Folklife Association presents a seven-concert series from October through April. In addition, they promote the annual Yakima Folklife Festival in July which offers over 60 performance acts to an audience of around 10,000.
Yakima Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
The Yakima Symphony Orchestra offers concerts with the Yakima Symphony Chorus as the official choral ensemble.
Yakima Valley Community Band
Begun in 1919 as the Yakima City Band, the Yakima Valley Community Band has a long tradition of providing live music to the communities of the Yakima Valley through free public concerts including its summer series of band concerts called "Concerts In The Parks."
Yakima Calendar of Events