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 […]
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 Gallery Raluca will be giving an Artist Talk at 6:30pm on July 10th! July 12th, 2025 – Exhibition Closes Artist Statement: My work explores disaster, […]
Musical Guests on the Patio Featuring The Bone People! Thursday, July 17 5pm - 8pm The Bone People are back! This longtime Iowa-based band is back in the studio and ready to spend an evening singing for you. Join us on the patio, on the west side of the Octagon, from 5-8 PM on […]
Elusive Balance Group Exhibition by Iowa Artist/Mother Group Exhibition Dates: July 21st, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day August 9th, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 2:00PM - 5:00PM in the Community Gallery August 9th, 2025 – Exhibition Closes Artist Statement: Works in this exhibition will include fiber art, painting, printmaking, mixed media, performance, sculpture, photography, and video […]
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)