Tacoma Arts Month, a community celebration of arts and culture, returns this October for its 25th anniversary, with hundreds of community-hosted arts and culture events taking place throughout the city. Programming includes music and dance performances, art exhibits, film screenings, literary readings, cultural events, and workshops for all ages. All events are open to the public, and many are free. Signature events include Kaleidoscope on October 3, the Tacoma Studio Tour on October 17 and 18, and Arts at the Armory on November 14 and 15.
Tacoma Arts Month is presented by the City of Tacoma’s Arts & Cultural Vitality Division. Events are hosted by artists, venues, and community organizations across Tacoma and are listed in one place at TacomaArtsMonth.org.
Tacoma Arts Month Signature Events
Kaleidoscope
The community is invited to a free, family-friendly celebration on October 3, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch (1102 Tacoma Ave S). The afternoon features a rotating lineup of live music, dance, and poetry performances, as well as ongoing hands-on art activities and workshops for all ages presented by dozens of Tacoma artists and cultural organizations. The Handforth Gallery will host The 253, a group show featuring local artists from Tacoma Arts Month’s 25-year history, as well as work by multiple Tacoma Artists Initiative Program artists. Tacoma Public Library’s Community Hub partner organizations – Write253, Remakery, Tacoma Tree Foundation, and 1443 Films – will anchor the event with special interactive programming. Several food truck vendors will be on site. Kaleidoscope is presented in partnership with Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Creates.
Tacoma Arts Month Proclamation and AMOCAT Arts Awards
Tacoma City Council will present the Tacoma Arts Month proclamation at the City Council meeting on October 6 at 5 p.m. in the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market St.). The 2026 AMOCAT Arts Awards will also be presented at the same meeting. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that significantly contribute to Tacoma’s arts and cultural life. This year’s recipients are Theresa Pan Hosley and Angela Jossy (Community Outreach by an Individual), Rainbow Center and Ted Brown Music (Community Outreach by an Organization), and the Arts & Culture Coalition of Pierce County (Arts Patron). Each award is handcrafted by Hilltop Artists using recycled glass.
Tacoma Studio Tour
The community is invited inside the working studios of over 100 local artists to learn about the artistic process, ask questions, and purchase one-of-a-kind work. This free, family-friendly, self-guided tour runs October 17 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 82 locations around Tacoma. Every studio will offer a demonstration or interactive activity for visitors. A full list of studios and an interactive map are available at TacomaArtsMonth.org. Visitors can pick up a Tacoma Studio Tour discovery card, collect stamps by completing challenges at each studio, and submit it for a chance to win artwork made by artists on the tour.
Tacoma Arts Month Events Calendar
The Tacoma Arts Month Events Calendar lists hundreds of arts and culture happenings including performances, exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, family-friendly activities and more at TacomaArtsMonth.org/events. The calendar is open year-round, and arts and cultural events happening within Tacoma city limits can be submitted for free.
Arts at the Armory
The community is invited to shop for original artwork, handmade goods, and creative gifts from 120 local artists and makers at Arts at the Armory, an indoor arts market presented in partnership with Tacoma Arts Live. This free, family-friendly event takes place November 14 and 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Tacoma Armory (1001 S. Yakima Ave.).
Information about Tacoma Arts Month events and programming is at TacomaArtsMonth.org. Tacoma Arts Month’s sponsors are KBTC, KNKX, Northwest Public Broadcasting, ParentMap, Preview, Showcase Magazine, South Sound Business, South Sound Magazine, and SouthSoundTalk.
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Image Courtesy of Vernon Ng