Art in Burien
Public Art in Burien
Looking for art in Burien? Public art is scattered around the city. To learn more about the art and artists, check out local signage and these websites:
Other places in Burien where you can find local art include:
- Burien Community Center
- Burien Library
- Burien Press
- Glass Expressions
- Page 2 Books
- Grand Central Bakery
- Maverick Apartments (windows)
- Merrill Gardens Burien (windows)
Local arts entities include:
Around Town
Downtown Burien Named a Creative District
Map by local artist Amber Raven
The Washington State Commission gave downtown Burien the desirable Creative District designation in June 2023, crowning ten years of efforts by local arts groups.
Burien joins such towns as Edmonds, Olympia, Langley, Port Townsend, Issaquah, and Bainbridge in this honor.
Criteria for becoming a Creative District include:
- Having a contiguous geographic area with a concentration of artistic, cultural or creative economy activities
- Identifying 1-2 primary arts/creative industries
- Having a definite identity
- Being walkable and/or accessible, attractive to locals and visitors alike.
- Promoting local arts, culture, creative economy, and tourist activities actively
- Having resources that clearly contribute to the town’s quality of life, including long-term cultural, economic, & workforce development plans
- Considering all incomes / affordable housing / maker spaces for creatives & artists living and working in the district to ensure their creative presence
For more information, see:
First Friday Art Walk
The first Fridays of each month feature art and music from 4:00-8:00 in downtown Burien, usually in the warmer months. Visit local shops and eateries, see original art, and listen to great music. When the program is underway, a new map is posted each week at the Discover Burien website. This event is co-sponsored by Discover Burien and the B-Town Beat.
Burien Actors Theatre (BAT)
BAT usually presents a season of three plays each year. After the group has lost its venue of many years at the Burien Annex, it produced its plays virtually on Zoom and in area parks during the summer for several years.
As of February 2023, BAT has a new brick-and-mortar venue, the Theatre at Kennedy Catholic High School, 140 S. 140th Street, Burien, WA 98168, with two plays scheduled. BAT is also back in the parks in the summertime.
Visit the Burien Actors Theatre website for current information.
Mural Art in Burien
Check out the cool alleyway art and murals in Burien!
- Alley behind Burien Press
- Along 4th Avenue heading to the Burien Transit Center
- On the Burien Transit Center parking garage
- On the wall of the shop next to the Hayes Feed & Country Store, Olde Burien
- On the shop wall facing 9th Ave SW at 152nd & 9th Ave SW, Olde Burien
Musical Theater Training and Performances for Youth: The Hi-Liners
This non-profit has been offering training, work shops, residencies, and productions for years for the greater Highline area. To find out more, please visit their website at http://www.hi-liners.org/.
City-Sponsored Art & Cultural Activities
The City of Burien hosts many cultural and art programs. See Burien Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services web page.
Sunset Magazine Article on Burien
The July 2017 issue of Sunset Magazine featured an article on Burien highlighting the activity in the arts here. Seattle’s “creative tribes are migrating ten miles down the shoreline,” the article states. Read more below: