About the Author

Rachel Benton

I have always been passionate about the arts in one way or another. In recent years, I became a regular show attendee throughout Thurston County, Tacoma, and Seattle, and it changed my life in many good ways. The more time I spent in the audience, the more I began to observe how crucial the arts are to our everyday lives are in our own personal development. As I engage in conversations with artists and audiences alike, I have discovered that the arts are crucial to the success, function, and peace of our society. I couldn’t keep all of this to myself — what started off as a social media blog has now become a column with the JOLT News, and more writing opportunities have come through OLY ARTS and beyond.

Being able to write about the arts is a privilege and honor, but what impacts my heart the most is seeing people begin to fall in love with the arts the way I have. There have been times when I have covered stories outside of my comfort zone, and those moments have been some of my absolute favorite and have lead to a more expansive taste and appreciation.

My pieces primarily focus on local arts, discussing current events, performers in the local art’s scene, and the relationship between the arts, politics, history, and life. My regular pieces include (but are not limited to) performance reviews, artists interviews, and pre-show discussions. In my spare time, I enjoy writing film reviews, poetry, original research, and devotionals.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts, double major in History and Political Science with a Minor in Music.