February 27th – March 29th, 2025 RECEPTION: February 27th 5:30PM-7:30PM In the Community Gallery Awards announced at 6:30PM ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND!  Octagonal: The All-Media Show is the annual, […]
2025 Elementary, Middle School, High School Annual Student Show April 7th - April 18th, 2025 in the Octagon Community Gallery About this group exhibition: The Annual Student Art Show highlights […]
Needle Night Thursday, April 17th 6PM - 8PM It’s needle night at the Octagon! Come see local artists demonstrate a variety of needle and fiber arts, including knitting, crocheting, embroidery, […]
Round Up Group Exhibition by Various Artists Exhibition Dates: April 22nd, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day April 25th, 2025 – Exhibition Public Reception, 6:00PM - 7:30PM in the Community Gallery […]
Live Jewelry Making Demo with Margie Magnuson April 24th at 6PM at the Octagon Center for the Arts Margie Magnuson, a goldsmith from Omaha, NE designs and creates her own jewelry line of […]
Art From the Attic Art Sale Event by Octagon Shop Event Dates: May 15th, 2025 – Event Opening Day May 17th, 2025 – Event Closes About This Event: Art from […]
2026 Annual Members' Show Group Exhibition by members of the Octagon Center for the Arts TBD in the Octagon Community Gallery About this group exhibition: This non-juried show celebrates the […]
2025 Annual Members' Show Group Exhibition by members of the Octagon Center for the Arts May 27th - June 21st, 2025 in the Octagon Community Gallery About this group exhibition: […]
Paint & Plant on the Patio! June 19 from 5:30 - 7:30pm Choose a free flower pot and decorate it in any way you can dream up! All are welcome […]
Over + Under Solo Exhibition by Raluca Iancu Exhibition Dates: June 30th, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day July 10th, 2025 – Exhibition Reception from 6pm - 7:30pm in the Community […]
About Us
The Octagon Center for the Arts is a non-profit community art center in the heart of downtown Ames, Iowa. A cornerstone of the cultural scene in Ames since 1966, the Octagon serves more than 30,000 people each year through art classes and outreach, rotating exhibits, a retail gallery shop, and the annual Octagon Art Festival.
The Octagon Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded in part through memberships, donations, and grants, including the City of Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA) and the Iowa Arts Council.
© 2025 Octagon Center for the Arts. All rights reserved.
Octagon Center for the Arts
413 & 427 Douglas Avenue
Ames, IAÂ 50010
Phone: 515-232-5331
Email: info@octagonarts.org
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Octagon Shop and Community Gallery
Monday-Wednesday 10:00am-5:30pm
Thursday 10:00am-7:00pm
Friday 10:00am-5:30pm
Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday CLOSED (except during the holidays)