Washington Center for the Performing Arts

The Washington Center works with 17 local arts and community organizations, including Olympia Symphony Orchestra, Masterworks Chorale Ensemble, and Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, and many more. 

Our community values these organizations, many of whom serve local youth. A majority — 59%! — of all tickets and attendance at the Washington Center is for events presented by our artistic and community partners. And it’s no wonder. These high-quality programs have a deep impact on our audiences. Attending arts events increases joy and tolerance, reduces stress, builds community identity, and brings diverse people together.

The Washington Center’s Partnership Program lifts the burden of administrative tasks so they can focus on their art. As our Artistic and Community Partners, organizations get:

●    First access to dates on the Washington Center stage. Some organizations schedule two or even three years in advance! This ensures that they won’t get squeezed out by visiting performers.

●    Box office services. We offer our partners a flat, reduced rate on ticket sales services, both at our in-person sales counter and through our 24-7 online sales platform.

●   Marketing services. We promote our partners’ performances and events.

●    Assistance on performance day. Our professional production crew, front of house staff, and volunteers help make their events run smoothly. 

All of this means that our partners get to show up and perform — with fewer logistical headaches. Greg Allison, conductor of Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, says, “The great work of the Washington Center allows SOGO to focus on what’s important: creating the art and opening opportunities for young musicians to experience wide-eyed awe as they take the main stage.”

Our artistic partnership program is part of the invisible structure that helps the arts in our community stay strong. It also adds up. We provided over $148,000 in subsidies last year alone to our artistic and community partners. With your help, we can keep this program strong.