Arts & Culture

Something for the Entire Family

The region provides a wide variety of opportunities for cultural enrichment. From theatres to public art there is something for everyone.
City councils, community organizations, and private citizens have commissioned numerous works of art. Some of these and their locations can be viewed opposite.

The historic Columbia Theatre opened as a vaudeville venue and movie house in 1925, declined during the mid-20th century and escaped what would have been a tragic ending in 1980 when excavation and demolition equipment heading toward the theater was diverted to help with cleanup following the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Subsequently, a group of visionaries got together and saved the building. Today, the vibrant 1,000-seat theatre hosts nearly a dozen shows each year, ranging from musicals to comedy to children’s theatre.

Rose Center for the Arts at Lower Columbia College opened in 2008. The state-of-the-art facility includes a 125-seat “thrust” theatre/lecture hall, 500-seat auditorium, art gallery, and rehearsal space for music, dressing rooms, classrooms and faculty offices. The Rose Center’s acoustics have received rave reviews.

For more than two decades, the Broadway Gallery has been a staple in the local art scene. A collaborative effort by 50 area artists, the Broadway Gallery hosts ongoing classes and special events.