Yakima Arts

Find an unexpected oasis for the arts in the Yakima Valley.

World-class performing arts venues and community theaters bring the arts to life on stage with acclaimed music, dance and theatrical performances, creating the rich cultural experiences you expect to find in larger communities. Celebrate the works of Northwest and international artists at galleries and shops in and around the Yakima Valley showcasing art glass, fine art photography, oil and watercolor paintings, multimedia arts, wood sculptures and vessels, fine prints and native petroglyphs.

The Seasons Performance Hall A beautifully restored 1902 church is transformed into a performance hall with unparalleled natural acoustics. Visitors settle into the pews remaining from the original church to experience an incomparable selection of jazz, classical and world music featuring some of the most thrilling international performers, sampling Northwest wines and enjoying the dramatic, arched, painted ceilings and original stained-glass windows.

The Capitol Theater A grand, cultural icon, with stunning ornamentation and decorative murals, the historic 1920 Capitol Theater is often known as “Yakima’s jewel box.” Destroyed by fire in 1975, the theater was completely rebuilt thanks to community dedication. Artist A.B. Heinsberger came out of retirement to repaint grand murals lost in the fire. The theater hosts more than 150 events each year, featuring touring Broadway musicals, including the traditional Best of Broadway series as well as sassy and irreverent Broadway on the Edge performances, and brings the arts to the valley’s youth.

The Larson Gallery Opening their first exhibition in 1949, Yakima’s Larson Gallery is the largest and oldest continuously operated noncommercial gallery in Central Washington. Promoting visual arts throughout the community, they host juried art exhibits such as the Central Washington Artists Exhibit and the Biennial National Photography Exhibit. They also bring rotating exhibits to the valley, celebrating Northwest culture, local heritage and world culture.
Mighty Tieton Begun with the transformation of 1940s apple warehouses into artists lofts, Mighty Tieton is a haven for the arts and fine design, showcasing the work of artisans and hosting arts events, including Artist Trust film festivals and exhibitions.

Community Arts
Public arts installations and a host of music festivals throughout the valley reflect the community’s long-standing dedication to the arts. From outdoor sculptures to jazz festivals, experience the valley celebrates the arts throughout the year.

The Millennium Arts Plaza Commissioned in 1999 as part of the nationwide “Artists and Communities: Americans Create for the Millennium” project, a one-of-a-kind, 80- by 80-foot sculpture by renowned artist, Wen-ti Tsen, reflects the history of the valley and dreams for the future.

The Toppenish Mural Project The city of Toppenish takes visitors back in time “where the west still lives,” with an extensive series of outdoor murals unlike any other. The mural project, reflecting the history and cultural diversity of the area, has earned several awards, including the Governors Art Award and a national Prettiest Painted Places award.

Yakima Arts, Events and Entertainment

There are three stage theaters in Yakima, including the Capitol Theatre, which hosts approximately 300 performances a year, most notably their Broadway series, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, headliners and spectacular Christmas events; the Warehouse Theatre Company, a popular community-run theatre and musical company featuring Yakima’s finest thespian talent; and the Seasons Performing Hall featuring chamber music and jazz. With its glorious stained-glass dome and windows, perfect acoustics and architecture that might have been transplanted from the Italian Renaissance, it is a Yakima treasure that has been featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Affiliated with the Warehouse Theatre Company is the Allied Arts Council. Allied Arts of Yakima Valley (established in 1962) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the coordination and promotion of arts events in the Valley. Allied Arts focuses on developing artistic and academic skills, community enhancement and economic growth through the arts. To get involved, visit the Yakima Allied Arts Web site.

Larson Gallery, located on the Yakima Valley Community College campus, offers free general admittance during gallery hours, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is home to juried shows and curator-selected shows. The largest juried show is the Central Washington Artists Exposition each fall. Artists from Central Washington are invited to submit various forms of artisan works, and 100 pieces are selected by a regional jury. Throughout the remainder of the year, director Cheryl H. Hahn selects a variety of shows from across the country and around the world. For more information, visit www.larsongallery.org.

There are multiple jazz festivals throughout the year, including art fairs, a weekly farmer’s market, a blues and jazz festival, a hop festival and many more. Every summer Yakima Valley residents and visitors gather together for a three-day Yakima Folklife Festival featuring performers, crafts and of course food at Franklin Park. For more information, visit the Yakima Valley Museum’s folk life Web site.

The Yakima community supports and encourages the arts in all their many forms—music, dance, theatre, symphony, visual arts and comedy—each one creating another layer of sustenance in a busy world. From Broadway shows to local productions, from touring extravaganzas to preschool recitals, the Yakima community loves to be entertained.