Arts
The arts have a strong presence in Riverside, particularly in the Downtown area. Downtown alone is home to more than 10 galleries, studios and arts associations, including the Riverside Community Arts Association. Notable performing arts venues are the historic Riverside Fox Theater, the Life Arts Building and the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. Shows are performed by the Riverside Community Players, Performance Riverside and the Riverside Community College Theater Department.
Several established groups also provide live musical and dance performances. The Riverside County Philharmonic has maintained a presence in the Inland Empire for more than 40 years. The Ballet Folklorico de Riverside has been sharing its artistic interpretation of the city’s Hispanic heritage since 1977. Established with a small group of children, the ballet now has more than 100 dancers. The Riverside Master Chorale, established in 1945, puts on classical and choral performances at Riverside Community College’s Landis Auditorium.
Riverside’s rich heritage can be explored in detail at one of several museums in the city. The Riverside Metropolitan Museum and the Mission Inn Museum contain exhibits emphasizing local history and culture, while the La Sierra University Museum of Natural History and La Sierra University Stahl Center Museum of Culture take a broader look at history and culture. Other notable museums are the Riverside Art Museum, which features the work of Southern California artists, and the UCR California Museum of Photography.