Contact Us
Email: Info@ArbutusFolkSchool.org
Message phone: (360) 350-0187
The Arbutus Folk School, is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides enlivening learning experiences through a wide-range of activities focused on fostering appreciation, knowledge and access to craft, music, community, celebrations and lore.
Located in historic downtown Olympia, Arbutus strives to be the heart of Pacific Northwest craft and community education. We provide professional instruction from world-class artists and a wide range of community-based learning opportunities to people of all ages. We support skills individuals seek to actively meet their own needs and interests and the needs of their communities. Students come to Arbutus to make useful and beautiful crafts, seek personal enrichment, community connections, advance artistic skill and knowledge or historic preservation arts. We support many local businesses that provide sustainable, locally-grown materials for use in our classes.
The Arbutus Folk School, is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides enlivening learning experiences through a wide-range of activities focused on fostering appreciation, knowledge and access to craft, music, community, celebrations and lore.
Located in historic downtown Olympia, Arbutus strives to be the heart of Pacific Northwest craft and community education. We provide professional instruction from world-class artists and a wide range of community-based learning opportunities to people of all ages. We support many local businesses that provide sustainable, locally-grown materials for use in our classes.
What’s New at Arbutus?
Steamboat Island String Band Jamboree!
Presented by H&R Block with The Pine Hearts and Oly Mountain Boys
WHEN?
Friday + Saturday, May 31st and June 1st, 2019
WHERE?
Prosperity Grange
3701 Steamboat Island Rd, Olympia, WA 98502
Olympia, Washington
WHO
Hosted by The Oly Mountain Boys and The Pine Hearts
WHY?
Because why the heck not?! Our extended community is packed with world-class talent, and you deserve to spend a weekend with the grooviest tunes, tastiest food and drink, and most wonderful people in the Northwest!
HOW MUCH?
Weekend pass for only $50! Friday-only tickets for $25, Saturday-only for $35, and all kiddos 12 or under attend for free! Add a weekend camping pass for only $15 and jam the nights away with us! On Sale Now!
A Percentage of the Proceeds Will Benefit Arbutus! It’s a Win-Win!
Steamboat Island String Band Jamboree!
Presented by H&R Block with The Pine Hearts and Oly Mountain Boys
WHEN?
Friday + Saturday, May 31st and June 1st, 2019
WHERE?
Prosperity Grange
3701 Steamboat Island Rd, Olympia, WA 98502
Olympia, Washington
Weekend Pass $50, All Tickets On Sale Now!
A Percentage of the Proceeds Will Benefit Arbutus! It’s a Win-Win!
Plum St. Village Mosaic
The Arbutus Folk School, along with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), is hosting a community mosaic workshop. This three day event will bring together members of the tiny home community, surrounding businesses and neighbors, and the general Olympia population. Participants will collaboratively work on a welcome sign for the Plum St. Tiny Home Village. The welcome sign will be roughly 3′ x 5′, and comprise of several small house shaped mosaic templates which will then be arranged by Jennifer Kuhns.
Community engagement is a major focus for Arbutus. Creating together strengthens bonds and deepens our understanding of each other, but we can’t do this without community support. If you would like to support our project, please share, donate, or participate!
Be sure to join our mailing list and check back often for updates.
Plum St. Village Mosaic
The Arbutus Folk School, along with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), is hosting a community mosaic workshop. This three day event will bring together members of the tiny home community, surrounding businesses and neighbors, and the general Olympia population. Participants will collaboratively work on a welcome sign for the Plum St. Tiny Home Village. The welcome sign will be roughly 3′ x 5′, and comprise of several small house shaped mosaic templates which will then be arranged by Jennifer Kuhns.
Artists in Residence
Ceramics
Andritta Berstein
Woodworking
Francis Fong
Olympia Woodworkers Guild
The Olympia Woodworkers Guild is a program of the Arbutus Folk School, dedicated to fostering a community of woodworkers.
Join us for our next meeting May, 27 2019 Doors open at 6:30 pm and the meeting starts at 7:00 pm.
Our speaker on May 27th, 2019 will be Guild Member Jim Blodgett. Jim will discuss the process for turning trees into lumber for woodworking. Jim Blodgett began his carpentry career in Western Massachusetts in 1970. He came west in 1977 and spent the next 40 years studying, building, remodeling, refurbishing, reusing and learning. Along the way he built 2 houses start to finish – one in the early 1980s to raise his three children in, the other completed in 2017 for his son to raise his young family in. In the early 2000’s he wrote tool, book, software and material reviews as well as several full-length articles for Fine Homebuilding magazine. He retired in 2017 and lives in that first house in Roy, with his Kathy, his wife of 39 years.
