Cannon Beach has one of the most concentrated collections of art galleries on the Oregon coast, grouped along and around Hemlock Street in the center of town. The Cannon Beach Gallery Group coordinates the work of around a dozen galleries ranging from cooperative studios to commercial spaces showing established Pacific Northwest artists. The emphasis is on painting, printmaking, ceramics, and glass art inspired by the coast.
The gallery scene is a genuine part of the town's identity rather than a tourist add-on — several of the galleries have been operating for decades. The annual Stormy Weather Arts Festival in November brings open studios, live music, and gallery events when the summer crowds have thinned and the dramatic winter storms begin rolling in from the Pacific. Even outside festival season, a gallery walk along Hemlock Street makes for a worthwhile hour, particularly on a wet afternoon when the beach is uninviting.