City Announces New Performance Series in Council Chambers
Plus, multiple opportunities to connect with the arts and celebrate our creative community
September 16, 2026 PORT TOWNSEND – The Port Townsend Arts Commission and Creative District are pleased to announce several events and opportunities to celebrate and support local artists this month. A new performance series in City Council Chambers launches on October 3, the Creative District and Port Townsend Main Street partner to recognize International Peace Day on September 21, and the Arts Commission seeks nominations for the 2026 Port Townsend Art Awards through the end of the year.
PERFORMANCES FOR THE PEOPLE FEATURES MUSIC AND POETRY ON OCTOBER 3RD
As part of the Soundcheck Arts and Music Festival in March of this year, the City opened its historic City Council Chambers for performances by local musicians, poets, and theatre artists. Based on the success of the event, the City is launching a stand-alone series, Performances for the People, on select Saturday afternoons ahead of the monthly ArtWalk. The first will take place on Saturday, October 3 from 4:00-6:00pm at City Council Chambers, 540 Water Street, after the Kinetic Skulpture Race and events. It will feature youth musicians The Boiler Room String Band, Ben Wilson and Kevyn Rubio of folk-rock band Wilderson, and Port Townsend Poet Laureate Rufina C. Garay, along with other poets.
Performances for the People is slated three times annually, with the next event scheduled for March 6, 2027 during the Soundcheck Arts and Music Festival. Performing artists are encouraged to apply on the Creative District website at: https://ptcreativedistrict.org/p4p/
CREATIVE DISTRICT AND PT MAIN STREET PARTNER FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY, SEPTEMBER 2
The Port Townsend Creative District is proud to partner with Port Townsend Main Street and artist Marilyn Haber to recognize International Peace Day on Monday, September 21. Haber has been working with community members to create small flags that say "peace" in hundreds of languages. These flags will be displayed at Tyler Street Plaza, 199 Tyler Street (at Water Street). Children and adults of all ages are invited to come to the Plaza between 4:00-6:00pm to create a flag to add to the collection or take home.
PORT TOWNSEND ARTS COMMISSION NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2026 ART AWARDS
Last year, the Port Townsend Arts Commission (PTAC) reimagined its annual art awards to include up to five recipients nominated by the community. The awards honor notable works of art, artistic achievements, and arts events to celebrate those who have contributed to the arts in Port Townsend and East Jefferson County. Individual artists, businesses, patrons, educators, notable art-related events, and artistic achievements from individuals and organizations are all eligible for nominations.
This August, artist Claire Ragland was selected through an open call to design this year's awards, based on her proposal for sculptural ceramic vessels. Each year these original works become the awards to artists and will be added to a collection of artist-designed and createdawards launched last year with sea-flora-inspired pieces by Victoria Power.
Nominations for 2026 are open through December 31. Community members can learn more and submit their nominations on the Arts Commission’s webpage: https://cityofpt.us/bc-ac/page/arts-awards
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Learn more about Performances for the People and apply to perform: https://ptcreativedistrict.org/p4p/
Learn more about International Peace Day activities: https://mycityscene.com/73206-16f7aaa4
Learn more about the Art Awards and submit a nomination: https://cityofpt.us/bc-ac/page/arts-awards
