Reedsport’s annual Holiday Bazaar and Gingerbread contest

All along the Oregon Coast, you’ll find active communities of artists, performers, writers and musicians. The arts are an important part of the Oregon lifestyle and you’ll find galleries, theatre groups and music in nearly every coast city.

For current information on artistic and cultural events in communities along the coast check out the calendar of events at Coast Arts, the regional arts council for the Oregon Coast. For a copy of the Oregon Coast Cultural Arts Guide contact Coast Arts.

Art Galleries and Studios

Inspired by the Pacific Ocean with its wind-swept headlands, old-growth timber and other treasures, artists find the Oregon Coast brings a potent energy to their work. Coast artists work in a variety of media including oils, watercolors, clay, bronze, glass, reeds, wood, textiles, paper, mixed-media and photographs.

Oregon Coast blown glass

You’ll find galleries all along the coast featuring works by local artists known nationally and internationally. Please contact the local Chamber of Commerce or visitor center for more information on the locations of galleries in their city.

Performing Arts

The performing arts also play a substantial role in the life of coastal residents. Dance troupes or theatre groups perform nearly every weekend, offering musicals, drama and comedy plays and you’ll often find comedy and magic shows.

Music

No matter what your music taste, you’ll find live music is an integral part of coast life. Community orchestras, chorales and big bands, rock and roll groups, Dixieland, jazz and blues bands and country and bluegrass groups bring added zest to the coast.

The Oregon coast is also home to a variety of annual music festivals including:

  • Jazz at Newport – Newport
  • Astoria Symphonic Band – Astoria
  • Oregon Dixieland Jubilee – Seaside
  • Cascade Music Festival – Lincoln City
  • Oregon Coast Music Festival – Coos Bay area
  • Concert by the Lake – Florence
  • Stormy Weather Arts Festival – Cannon Beach
  • Oregon Coast Music Association Concert In The Park – Coos Bay
  • Sounds of Christmas – Coos Bay
  • Yachats Music Festival – Yachats

Please contact the local member Chambers of Commerce or Visitor Centers for more information on dates, times and locations of these and other music events.

Writers

You’ll find a variety of writers’ series and workshops, poetry readings and other writers’ activities along the coast. Bookstores are plentiful and you’ll find many books by Oregon authors on their shelves.

Arts Organizations

OCVA Member Oregon Coast Council for the Arts