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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

91´«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.

91´«Ă˝ Writers Week

At 91´«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 , 91´«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

Dancers performing at the 98th Academy Awards
June 02, 2026
A 'Golden' Performance
In March, “Golden” from the film “KPop Demon Hunters” became the first K-Pop song to win the Oscar for Best Original Song. Celebrating that moment at the 98th Academy Awards was DaEun Jung, a UC Riverside assistant professor of dance, who participated in a live performance of “Golden” as a Korean cultural consulting choreographer and dancer. 
Two elderly men jog along a paved path.
May 21, 2026
Book lays out framework for reducing chronic illness
The numbers are startling. Chronic illnesses afflict an estimated 129 million Americans and cause roughly 70% of all deaths nationwide. Of the more than $4 trillion spent each year on healthcare in the United States, 90% is incurred by people with chronic and mental health conditions.
A man plays the timbales with the Mambo Legends Orchestra.
May 11, 2026
91´«Ă˝ music scholar helps tell the story of salsa music
A spirited new multimedia exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution tells the story of salsa with the help of a UC Riverside associate professor of music. 
Sinners promotion
April 22, 2026
Reclaiming the context of creative works
New research led by a UC Riverside professor has developed an AI tool that compensates for the shifting genre perceptions that impact how creative works are understood, evaluated, and even discovered. 

 

Events