Third Thursdays: ♟♜♞♛ Game Night at the Octagon! ♥ ♠ ♦ ♣ Spring break will be wrapping up and you might need an activity to keep the family busy! Or, an opportunity to hang around some fun adults! Join us for Game Night on Thursday, March 20. From 5:00-6:30 pm we welcome people of all ages to play […]
Draw Your Pet with Bethany Schultz Thursday March 27 6:00pm-7:30pm Donations encouraged! This month's featured artist, Bethany Schultz, is holding a drawing workshop on March 27th! Submit your photo to shop@octagonarts.org and Bethany will prep your drawing with a grid to help you in your drawing adventure!
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 artwork by elementary, middle, and high school students from schools within 20 miles of Ames. Learn more on this exhibition's webpage here Exhibition Dates: April […]
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, felting, quilting and mending. This come-and-go event is from 6:00-8:00 PM and is for all ages. Feel free to bring your own fiber projects to work […]
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 May 10th, 2025 – Exhibition Closes About This Exhibition: A "round-up" of a few like-minded artists living and working in Iowa. Artist List: Sean Thornton […]
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 pendants, earrings, and rings. She uses sterling silver, 14kt. gold and precious and semi-precious gemstones. Margie says her formal training stressed clean, simple design, employing hand forging […]
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 the Attic begins Thursday, May 15! Purchase art from members of the Octagon who have graciously donated original artwork, and pieces we have gathered 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 skills, creativity, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing work — established artists next […]
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: This non-juried show celebrates the skills, creativity, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing […]
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 - grab a friend, bring your family, or have an evening on your own! Back Alley Plants will have a variety of plants available if […]
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
Privacy Policy
We encourage online shopping! Contact us with questions.
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)