Frye Art Museum Programs
The Frye Art Museum showcases its Founding Collection of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century paintings as well as initiating and presenting exhibitions of contemporary art. The Frye is committed to exhibiting the work of exceptional yet underrecognized local artists, including performance groups Implied Violence and Degenerate Art Ensemble and photographer Isaac Layman, as well as a range of superb contemporary artists working across the globe.
The Frye presents a variety of lectures and gallery talks with artists, scholars, curators, and educators that delve into the art and culture of the Museum's collections and exhibitions. Other complementary programs include film screenings and discussions, music performance, literary readings, and guided tours and activities for students K-12 as well as the general public.
Recent initiatives designed to welcome and engage a wide range of visitors include Small Frye, a monthly in-gallery storytelling program for preschoolers and their families to help develop pre-literacy skills; Mindfulness Meditation, a free weekly half-hour guided meditation session for lunchtime stress relief; and Tea and Tours, a series of guided tours of each major exhibition followed by tea, treats, and conversation with a curator in the Frye cafe.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In partnership with the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Washington and Elderwise, the Frye recently embarked on a pilot project that developed into here:now, an arts engagement program for individuals with dementia and their care partners. Recognizing the dramatic increase of Alzheimer’s disease and the aging population of the Frye’s visitors and its neighborhood, the Museum created the program to provide meaningful social and intellectual experiences to a population which is often living in isolation. Participants’ written evaluations report increases in self-confidence, social interaction, and cognitive stimulation as a result of this in-depth and sustained service.