Lois Maffeo in the Olympian:

All local artists and groups -- including those involved in everything from performing to visual to literary arts -- will have a chance to network and discuss the arts at the Yashiro Japanese Garden for what city arts staff and commission volunteers hope will be the first of many casual monthly meetings.

It's an effort to strengthen and unify Olympia's growing and diverse arts scene, said arts commissioner, musician and writer Lois Maffeo.

"It's going to be an opportunity for artists and organizations. It could be someone representing the Olympia Film Society or Harlequin or another arts group -- writers and poets, filmmaking. Anybody is welcome to come," Maffeo said. "We are deliberately casting our net very wide. It's going to really be an idea summit."

Information: Contact Erin Conine at 360-570-5858 or econine@ci.olympia.wa.us. See www. ci.olympia.wa.us/ par to learn more about the commission and arts in Olympia.