Family Clay Sunday

The Willamette Art Center is making a difference in the lives of children in our community. With as many as 100 participants each week, Family Clay Sunday is providing an important and necessary art education opportunity, and giving parents quality family time at a very low cost.

Empty Bowls

Artists from the Willamette Art Center and throughout the community create over 1,500 bowls each year to be sold at this annual benefit sale for Marion Polk Food Share (MPFS). In the past seven years, Empty Bowls has raised over $170,000 to benefit MPFS and the people they serve.

Hours

Monday-Thursday
10am – 8pm (open studio)

Friday-Saturday
10am – 5pm (open studio)

Sunday
1pm – 4pm (Family Clay Sunday only)

Salem’s Community Arts Center

The Willamette Art Center (WAC) is located at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. We offer exciting art classes and workshops, studio space for artists, and just plain fun for all ages. The WAC operates as the public face of the Friends of the Visual Arts which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving our community through art and art access — we are a place to learn and grow in the arts!

Thank You

The Willamette Art Center thanks all of our volunteers, students, and donors for your support. Your participation in classes, volunteering at events, and financial support is the reason the WAC thrives and has grown tremendously since opening to the Salem community in 2006.

social media

Smiles happen every day at WAC

  • Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
    2 days ago
  • Unloading day @eastcreekart is always such a good time! #eastcreek #woodkilnfiring
    2 days ago
  • Come to the Clay-a-thon at the art center tomorrow from 12-4pm. Come have fun with clay to raise funds to support Marion Polk Food Share. We provide the clay & tools. We even have creative idea posters to get those ideas flowing. #ceramics #clayathon @marionpolkfoodshare
    5 days ago
  • We want to hear from you!We are working on a project in conjunction with @salem.art.association to create a zine focused on “Community” with the theme of “Ceramics As A Metaphor For Life.” We will be incorporating everyone’s interpretations into the zine.An easy way to think about it is “Just like in ceramics, also in life…”Here are some examples of what we have collected so far:• “When put through a heated situation, we come out stronger and more solid on the other side.”• “In ceramics, similar to life the outcome can be unpredictable, I lean into this and approach with curiosity”• “When you begin it is a mystery. You find the answer lies within”• “Your results can be a brilliant surprise or a devastating disappointment, just like in real life. But you can’t have the brilliant surprise without taking the risk”#zine #ceramics #life #metaphor
    6 days ago
View on Instagram
Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
@willametteartcenter
@willametteartcenter
•
Follow
Who’s ready for another term of fun classes? Spring term classes and workshops registration starts Monday at 12pm. To register, tap the link in the bio. #ceramics #watercolor #classes #workshops
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
Unloading day @eastcreekart is always such a good time! #eastcreek #woodkilnfiring
Unloading day @eastcreekart is always such a good time! #eastcreek #woodkilnfiring
Unloading day @eastcreekart is always such a good time! #eastcreek #woodkilnfiring
Unloading day @eastcreekart is always such a good time! #eastcreek #woodkilnfiring
Unloading day @eastcreekart is always such a good time! #eastcreek #woodkilnfiring
Unloading day @eastcreekart is always such a good time! #eastcreek #woodkilnfiring
@willametteartcenter
@willametteartcenter
•
Follow
Unloading day @eastcreekart is always such a good time! #eastcreek #woodkilnfiring
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
Come to the Clay-a-thon at the art center tomorrow from 12-4pm. Come have fun with clay to raise funds to support Marion Polk Food Share. We provide the clay & tools. We even have creative idea posters to get those ideas flowing. #ceramics #clayathon @marionpolkfoodshare
@willametteartcenter
@willametteartcenter
•
Follow
Come to the Clay-a-thon at the art center tomorrow from 12-4pm. Come have fun with clay to raise funds to support Marion Polk Food Share. We provide the clay & tools. We even have creative idea posters to get those ideas flowing. #ceramics #clayathon @marionpolkfoodshare
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
We want to hear from you!We are working on a project in conjunction with @salem.art.association to create a zine focused on “Community” with the theme of “Ceramics As A Metaphor For Life.” We will be incorporating everyone’s interpretations into the zine.An easy way to think about it is “Just like in ceramics, also in life…”Here are some examples of what we have collected so far:• “When put through a heated situation, we come out stronger and more solid on the other side.”• “In ceramics, similar to life the outcome can be unpredictable, I lean into this and approach with curiosity”• “When you begin it is a mystery. You find the answer lies within”• “Your results can be a brilliant surprise or a devastating disappointment, just like in real life. But you can’t have the brilliant surprise without taking the risk”#zine #ceramics #life #metaphor
@willametteartcenter
@willametteartcenter
•
Follow
We want to hear from you! We are working on a project in conjunction with @salem.art.association to create a zine focused on “Community” with the theme of “Ceramics As A Metaphor For Life.” We will be incorporating everyone’s interpretations into the zine. An easy way to think about it is “Just like in ceramics, also in life…” Here are some examples of what we have collected so far: • “When put through a heated situation, we come out stronger and more solid on the other side.” • “In ceramics, similar to life the outcome can be unpredictable, I lean into this and approach with curiosity” • “When you begin it is a mystery. You find the answer lies within” • “Your results can be a brilliant surprise or a devastating disappointment, just like in real life. But you can’t have the brilliant surprise without taking the risk” #zine #ceramics #life #metaphor
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

announcements

Volunteer on Board Committees

If you are interested in joining any of the following committees, please contact the center and the chairperson will contact you with the meeting schedule. Your input will be welcomed.

  • Empty Bowls — Margrethe Greg
  • Fundraising — Doug Dacar
  • Marketing and Communication — Heather Skinner
  • Membership — Jennifer Lassen
  • Strategic Planning — Pam Baldwin

Board of Directors

View All Announcements

our sponsors