LOCATED IN MAIN & SWEENEY GALLERIES. The Octagon Center for the Arts showcases artwork by local elementary, middle, and high school students annually. High School art instructors from schools within […]
Artistry in Cold Process Soapmaking Saturday, April 27 1 – 4:30 pm $60 This workshop will focus on the artistry possible in cold process soapmaking. Using the masterbatch process of […]
Mirage Bellydance Hafla 2019 Date: Saturday, May 4, 2019 Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Location: The Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames IA 50010 515-232-5331 Cost: $10 […]
Exploring Art, ages: 18 months – younger 3’s Tuesdays, 9:15 - 10am $55 for each 4 week session below: January 8 - 29 February 19 – March 12 April 2 – 23 […]
LOCATED IN THE SMALL WALL GALLERY Biography and Artist Statement AJ Zandt is an artist and printmaker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Surface Wear is the result of his latest efforts to […]
Easy Silver Earrings, 16+ Thursday, May 16 6:30 – 8:30 pm $35 materials included Learn about wire work and make your own earrings. Learn about metals, wire, gauges, tools, and also […]
LOCATED IN THE SWEENEY GALLERY Artist Statement and Bio: Mary Jones Mary Jones makes maps of the wilderness of personal history. Images and words are layered out of time and […]
Hands on Harps, ages 16+ 2 dates available: May 18, 10:00-11:30 or August 24, 10:00-11:30 $40/class Learn more about the harp and try out different sizes of folk harps. Participants […]
LOCATED IN THE MAIN GALLERY Print Retrospective Artist Bio: April Katz April Katz received her M.F.A. degree from Arizona State University. She is Morrill Professor at Iowa State University […]
LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY GALLERY Artist Statement for Measured Perceptions During a 2015 trip to Spain, Katz encountered evidence of La Convivencia (the coexistence of Muslim, Jewish and Christian populations) […]
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, IA 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)