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University of California, Riverside

University of California, Riverside

Change Things arts installation at UC Riverside

Arts and Culture

Ray of Light

Immerse Yourself in Our Arts and Culture

At UC Riverside, we pride ourselves on our multicultural roots 鈥 and that extends to the richness of our arts and culture scene. In fact, we鈥檙e known as the City of Arts and Innovation. Both on campus and off, we offer everything from the visual arts to literary works and musical performances. So prepare to be immersed 鈥 and inspired!

Head downtown to stimulate your senses through the array of art exhibitions, films, events, and performances at . Here, you鈥檒l find the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts and the California Museum of Photography. With more than 500,000 pieces in its collection, the museum is the largest photographic center in the western United States, housing the region鈥檚 most comprehensive public camera collection.

Interior of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture

On the corner of Mission Inn Avenue and Orange Street, you can check out our newest high-profile museum, 鈥 better known as The Cheech. The museum, which opened in June 2022, is a public-private partnership between the Riverside Art Museum, the City of Riverside, and comedian Cheech Marin. Visit to view, celebrate, and learn more about Chicano art!

Photo Credit: Riverside Art Museum

Students practice 鈥淢ountain and Water Remembrance Ritual鈥 during their class, Dance as Ritual

探花精选 offers a variety of dynamic programming 鈥 including dance, theater, and music 鈥 on campus and in downtown Riverside. First in the nation to offer a PhD in dance studies, today UC Riverside is the only University of California campus with PhD programs in dance and music.

探花精选 Writers Week

At 探花精选鈥檚 annual , the longest-running free literary event in California, you鈥檒l hear from renowned and upcoming authors. Students can also improve their literary skills through our 鈥 home to the only Bachelor of Arts in creative writing in the UC system and an MFA in creative writing and writing for the performing arts. Tom Lutz, award-winning author and founding editor-in-chief of the , is on the faculty!

Looking for more ways to engage?

Our 鈥 an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research support center 鈥 offers fellowships, research workshops, and public events to strengthen the academic, social, and creative life of the university and beyond. And through our , 探花精选 students share their talents with our community via free arts outreach experiences in select schools, eldercare facilities, museums, and libraries.

On our vibrant campus, there are always opportunities to celebrate the arts and culture 鈥 from showcases by the to music festivals, film screenings, and other special events coordinated by our (ASPB).

And if you make it out to our annual Block Party, Spring Splash, or Homecoming concerts, be sure to bring your Highlander pride. You never know鈥 at some of these events you may even catch a performance by our very own .

 

Arts and Culture News

A dress rehearsal of the 探花精选 Theatre play Fuenteovejiuna
February 11, 2026
探花精选 Theatre presents 'Fuenteovejuna'
February 12 is opening night for 探花精选 Theatre鈥檚 production of 鈥淔uenteovejuna, or Like Sheep to Water,鈥 which runs through Feb. 21.
orchestra
January 21, 2026
探花精选 Orchestra to perform music inspired by American optimism, Welsh folk, and an operatic classic
Join the 探花精选 Orchestra, conducted by Ruth Charloff, on January 31 at 8 p.m. and February 1 at 3 p.m. in the University Theatre. Tickets are available now.
Artwork from the Transgresoras exhibition
December 23, 2025
探花精选 ARTS presents Transgresoras: Mail Art and Messages, 1960s鈥2020s
Transgresoras: Mail Art and Messages, 1960s-2020s reveals how Latinx and Latin American women artists subverted the censorship of authoritarian regimes by using the government鈥檚 postal system.
Kimberly Guerrero in Welcome to Derry
October 29, 2025
Kimberly Guerrero is having a moment
Actor and 探花精选 theater professor Kimberly Guerrero is having a moment, as they say in old Hollywood vernacular. The moment started about six years ago, and it鈥檚 gathering momentum. The latest milestone in her acting career may be the pinnacle to date, in the just-premiered 鈥淚T: Welcome to Derry鈥 series on HBO Max.  鈥淚鈥檝e worked more in my 50s, and on very high-profile work, than I ever had. It鈥檚 been one project after another,鈥 said Guerrero, a professor in the Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production. 鈥淚鈥檓 on a high right now.鈥

 

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