ARTS COVERAGE TO END ALL ARTS COVERAGE >>>

At this point it goes without saying. If you're looking for coverage of local arts in Tacoma, Olympia, and all points in between, the Weekly Volcano is THE place to find it. Our goal is to consistently provide the best local arts coverage possible to our fantastic readers -- always be on the lookout for ways to shine a light on all the awesome creativity we see around us.

Here's a look at the Volcano arts coverage waiting for you this week in print and online.

SPECIAL BONUS: The Volcano's Fall Arts Guide hit streets today!!!

THEATER: The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

(TACOMA LITTLE THEATRE: The genuinely hillarious "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" runs through Sept. 26. Photo courtesy Tacoma Little Theatre)

Putnam County's spellers are a host of middle schoolers (played by adults) with a host of eccentricities. Some of the students' eccentricities are obvious-Leaf Coneybear wanders on in a helmet and a homemade quilt-cape, for instance -and some are less so.

Two things join each of these children: a love of spelling, and a massive helping of insecurity -- insecurity over their intelligence, their sexuality, their family and even with their success. ... -- Joe Izenman

FEATURE: PA:ID and Tacoma's Prairie Line Trail

((L to R) Todd Bressi and Lucy Begg of Thoughtbarn, PA:ID instructor Elizabeth Conner, Robert Gay and Tacoma historian Michael Sullivan Photo courtesy Lisa Kinoshita)

The Tacoma arts scene is always on the move-sometimes in ways you might not expect. Currently, a program called Public Art In Depth (PA:ID) is kicking up its heels, training a fleet of new public artists. Starting this fall, the PA:ID team will showcase artwork along an under-known facet of Tacoma-the Prairie Line trail.

PA:ID - an effort created and powered by the City of Tacoma - trains selected public artists for free via workshops, trips, hands-on experiences and mentorship. Throughout 2011 and 2012, there will be several projects available exclusively to PA:ID students, including projects for Artscapes, Metro Parks and Sound Transit. PA:ID is just another step Tacoma has taken to support local artists and provide opportunities.

"What we are doing is investing in artists who have accomplished a level of success in their studio work to teach them intensively about public art-what it is, what it entails, how one has to not only be a good artist, but also think about the site, the community, get projects engineered, and get permits," says Amy McBride, Tacoma Arts Administrator. ... -- Kristin Kendle

MOVIE BIZ BUZZ: Gig Harbor 72-Hour Film Competition

You can bet plenty of local masochistic filmmakers will not resist the Gig Harbor 72-Hour Film Competition. Sure, participants have only a weekend (6 p.m. on Sept. 15 through the same time on Sept. 18) to complete a short film. And sure, every work must include the same line of dialogue, prop, action and situation. And sure, the Gig Harbor Film Society, which organizes the contest, has even capped every team's crew to five members. That's five people, four elements, three days, two nights, one movie. But you can't make diamonds without a little pressure, and all these rules may squeeze out a masterpiece. ... -- Christopher Wood

PLUS: More local theater coverage than you can shake a stick at

PLUS: Comprehensive Arts & Entertainment Calendar

PLUS: Sneezing baby panda bears