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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 — and that extends to the richness of our arts and culture scene. In fact, we’re 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 — and inspired!

Head downtown to stimulate your senses through the array of art exhibitions, films, events, and performances at . Here, you’ll 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’s 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, — 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 “Mountain and Water Remembrance Ritual” during their class, Dance as Ritual

Â鶹´«Ă˝ offers a variety of dynamic programming — including dance, theater, and music — 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.

Â鶹´«Ă˝ Writers Week

At Â鶹´«Ă˝â€™s annual , the longest-running free literary event in California, you’ll hear from renowned and upcoming authors. Students can also improve their literary skills through our — 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 — an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research support center — offers fellowships, research workshops, and public events to strengthen the academic, social, and creative life of the university and beyond. And through our , Â鶹´«Ă˝ 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 — 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… at some of these events you may even catch a performance by our very own .

 

Arts and Culture News

Kimberly Guerrero in Welcome to Derry
October 29, 2025
Kimberly Guerrero is having a moment
Actor and Â鶹´«Ă˝ theater professor Kimberly Guerrero is having a moment, as they say in old Hollywood vernacular. The moment started about six years ago, and it’s gathering momentum. The latest milestone in her acting career may be the pinnacle to date, in the just-premiered “IT: Welcome to Derry” series on HBO Max.  “I’ve worked more in my 50s, and on very high-profile work, than I ever had. It’s been one project after another,” said Guerrero, a professor in the Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production. “I’m on a high right now.”
Four book covers of works by Sandra Cisneros.
September 30, 2025
An Evening with celebrated Latinx writer Sandra Cisneros
On Wednesday, October 8, UC Riverside’s College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences will host “Palabra y Poder: An Evening with Sandra Cisneros.”
Nikolay Maslov in the Culver Screening Room
September 24, 2025
Keeping it reel
The curator of the only foreign and independent movie house in Riverside does watch shows on his laptop. But he’ll never give up watching film in person, and he doesn’t want you to, either.
Lion Man cover
August 13, 2025
Graphic novelist helps Lion Man roar back to comics
A little-known comic book character considered one of the first Black superheroes is getting a revival by a team of artists including UC Riverside professor John Jennings. Jennings, a professor of media and cultural studies and an award-winning graphic novelist, is one of the creators behind “The Adventures of Lion Man,” an anthology graphic novel released Aug. 12 by Rosarium Publishing.

 

Events