ABOUT THE MUSEUM
MISSION
Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts facilitates the free and public exhibition of art and performance in Thurston County, Washington by hosting pop-up museums in underutilized commercial spaces.
VALUES
Creativity
TCMoFA is a project devoted to and fueled by creativity. Our exhibitions celebrate the creativity of local artists across a wide range of mediums. As an organization, creativity is our greatest tool. It carries us, again and again, from empty space to museum exhibition. It inspires us to think ambitiously, question traditional museum models, and create the things we want to exist.
Community
This place-based project is a grand experiment in community-driven public art. Our creative ecosystem includes artists, volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, generous landlords, and the local community, who come out in droves to see and support the art. Together, we have created something bigger than the sum of our parts. Art is social fabric and connective force.
Inclusivity
From the walls of our museums to the seats at our curatorial tables, TCMoFA strives to represent and include people of all ages, ethnicities, sexualities, genders, and abilities. Our CSMoFA program is designed expressly to center Indigenous artists and their perspectives. We do not charge artists submission fees and all exhibitions are free to enter. Art is for everyone.
PROCESS
TCMoFA is built anew for each exhibition. With the help of many generous volunteers, we transform Olympia’s underutilized commercial and industrial spaces into museum-worthy exhibition spaces. This process involves deep cleaning, painting walls and ceilings, installing lighting, building walls and podiums, installing museum signage and placards, and hanging the art itself. Every pop-up museum is a culmination of community support, creative grit, and deep commitment to the vision.
TIMELINE
2022
October 7-9: Our first-ever pop-up museum debuted at 109 State Ave as part of Olympia’s Fall Arts Walk. The exhibition featured 26 artists and was enthusiastically received by the local community. A great success—and proof of concept!
2023
April 28-30: We hosted a pop-up museum at 509 4th Ave as part of Olympia’s Spring Arts Walk. The exhibition featured 39 artists and welcomed approximately 1,600 visitors. The weekend’s festivities included a gala and dance party. musicians, performance artists, DJs.
July 8-14: We transformed the cavernous garage of Olympia’s Armory Creative Campus into a week-long museum exhibition featuring 36 local artists and attracting 1,350 visitors.
October 5-9: In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, we hosted the inaugural Coast Salish Museum of Fine Arts at 509 4th Ave. The exhibition featured works of traditional and contemporary art by 16 self-identified Indigenous artists with personal connections to the Salish Sea. CSMoFA attracted over 800 visitors.
2024
April 26-28: Our first themed show, titled Portals, took place at 509 4th Ave as part of Olympia’s Spring Arts Walk. It featured the work of 41 visual and performing artists and welcomed
October 4-5 + 12-14: In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, we hosted the second annual CSMoFA featuring the theme Future Generations. This was our first show at 120 Olympia Ave NE. The show featured 17 self-identified Indigenous artists and hosted 890 visitors.
December 7: We were able to work with two artists in December to host Gripping Fodder, a multidisciplinary exhibition of local works. Through December and into January we worked with Anton Seder and Max Nordile to host shows featuring musicians and performing artists in the 120 Olympia Ave NE space.
2025
January 11: Gripping Fodder’s closing ceremonies took place at the start of the year.
January 14: TCMoFA was able to collaborate with Craft Club, a local organization that hosts monthly craft nights. In a one night exhibition, members put up their own work to display and crafted together in a shared communal space. We hosted 78 members and viewers for this event.
April 25-26: This spring, TCMoFA will once again host an exhibition during Spring Arts Walk. This year’s theme is Labyrinths, we are currently accepting submissions here.
VISION
We envision TCMoFA continuing to evolve and expand as a hub for local art, artists, and creative community in Olympia for years to come. In addition to museum exhibitions, we hope to one day offer free educational programming to the public, including artist lectures and workshops, where participating artists are paid for their time. We also dream of one day securing a permanent location for the museum with regular hours, and a regular exhibition schedule, significantly increasing opportunities for artists and enthusiasts alike.