Art Groups and Organizations
Key Cultural Infrastructure
Columbia Theatre
Rose Center for the Arts
Broadway Gallery
Longview Public Library galleries
Lower Columbia College art facilities
Arts & Culture Organizations
Columbia Theatre Association for the Performing Arts
Website: https://www.columbiatheatre.com
Role: Largest performing arts venue in the region
Focus: Concerts, touring shows, theatre, education programs
Key program: Eloise Pepper Arts Education Fund for youth arts programs
Address: 1231 Vandercook Way, Longview
Importance: Major cultural hub; mission is to enrich community cultural life through performing arts.
Stageworks Northwest Theatre
Website: https://www.stageworksnorthwest.com
Address: 1433 Commerce Ave
Focus: Community theatre productions (musicals, plays, comedy)
Structure: Volunteer-driven nonprofit theatre company
Founded: 1999
Role: Main grassroots theatre organization in Longview.
Rose Center for the Arts
Location: Lower Columbia College campus
Facilities:
525-seat auditorium
125-seat theatre
art gallery
rehearsal halls
Role: Regional performance and arts education venue.
Visual Arts Organizations & Galleries
Broadway Gallery
Website: https://the-broadway-gallery.com
Address: 1418 Commerce Ave
Type: Artist-run cooperative gallery
Founded: 1982 by 17 local artists
Members: ~30 regional artists
Activities:
exhibitions
art classes
monthly First Thursday art events.
Columbian Artists Association
Website: https://www.columbianartists.org
Type: Nonprofit regional artist association
Activities:
exhibitions
workshops
monthly meetings
juried shows
Membership: artists across SW Washington and Oregon.
Koth Memorial Gallery
Location: Longview Public Library
Focus: rotating exhibits by regional artists
Role: community exhibition space accessible to the public.
Community Art Workshop
Location: 1526 Commerce Ave
Affiliation: Lower Columbia CAP
Focus: free art classes and exhibitions open to all skill levels.
Public Art & Cultural Development
Art Renaissance Team
Website: https://cowlitzart.org
Role: Public art advocacy group
Goal: Bring large-scale artworks (including works by Dale Chihuly) to Longview
Focus: civic pride, tourism, and public art installations.
Arts Education & Academic Programs
Lower Columbia College Arts Programs
Visual arts exhibitions
drama productions
music ensembles and concerts
community performances at Columbia Theatre.
Key facilities:
Forsberg Art Gallery
Rose Center for the Arts
Literary Arts & Cultural Programming
Northwest Voices
Hosted by: Longview Public Library + Lower Columbia College
Focus: regional writers and author talks
Goal: connect community with Pacific Northwest writers.
Cultural & Historic Organizations
Longview Historic Preservation Community
(connected to the city’s preservation program and local historical societies)
Key cultural themes include:
Cowlitz Tribe history
Long-Bell Lumber heritage
City Beautiful planning history.
(These groups are described in the comprehensive plan rather than a single organization.)
Other Creative Community Groups
These are smaller or informal arts groups active locally.
Sacajawea Fiber Arts Guild (textile arts)
Quilting guilds and knitting groups in Kelso/Longview
Urban Sketchers meetups
Community art meetups at libraries and local businesses.
(Some groups are informal but active community participants.)
Key Cultural Spaces
Not organizations but important arts infrastructure:
Columbia Theatre
Rose Center for the Arts
Broadway Gallery
Longview Public Library galleries
Lower Columbia College art facilities
These venues host many regional artists and events.