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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´«Ã½ 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´«Ã½ Writers Week

At Â鶹´«Ã½â€™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´«Ã½ 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

A scene from the play A Doll's House.
May 07, 2025
Â鶹´«Ã½ Theatre presents ‘A Doll’s House’
Thursday, May 8, at 8 p.m. is opening night for Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production’s interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House."
Parable of the Talents cover
April 30, 2025
Graphic novelist’s new work is a parable for the times
Graphic novelist John Jennings has become well-versed with novelist Octavia Butler’s dystopian worlds with two previous award-winning adaptations. The latest project by the illustrator and his creative partners hits close to the current state of the world. The hardcover graphic novel “Parable of the Talents,†adapting Butler’s Nebula Award-winning 1998 novel, was released April 22 by publisher Abrams ComicArts.
Writers Week
April 22, 2025
Writers Week returns to in-person-only format
Join The University of California, Riverside’s Department of Creative Writing for the 48th Â鶹´«Ã½ Writers Week Festival May 5-8. The free and open-to-the-public festival is the longest-running free literary festival in California. All events will be held in Interdisciplinary South (INTS) 1113. Featured writers this year include:
A woman views the "Shadow Archive" exhibition at Â鶹´«Ã½ ARTS
March 26, 2025
Â鶹´«Ã½ ARTS unveils its three spring exhibitions
On Saturday, March 22, Â鶹´«Ã½ ARTS held a reception heralding the California Museum of Photography's three exhibitions for spring

 

Events