Warm afternoons followed by sunsets descending beneath a deep orange horizon are two of the things Arizona residents look forward to during this time of year.
The colors of contemporary art and the sounds of culturally rich music and theater are also ways to welcome the onset of longer days and comfortable outdoor temperatures. It is possible to capture this essential Arizona experience at Mesa Arts Center.
Mesa Arts Center, located at 1 E. Main St. in Downtown Mesa, is a local destination for families and friends to gather and explore art galleries, concerts, and performances in the largest, all-inclusive arts campus in our state.
Admission to the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum is free. The post-modern campus spaces that you will discover on your visit are both indoor and outdoor, and designed for your browsing entertainment.
While touring the campus, you can expect to meander among performance venues, art galleries, and live entertainment. And though Mesa Arts Center hosts a year-long variety of touring performances and international entertainment, it also graciously provides a series of community events and festivals.
Discover the Out to Lunch Concert Series, with midday free performances by local and touring musicians. Bring along folding chairs or a blanket to enjoy the music and architecture of spaces insightful of the Sonoran Desert. It’s the perfect place to take family, or out-of-towners who crave culturally rich Arizona experiences.
A day at Mesa Arts Center might include browsing through one, or all five, exhibition galleries, that display the work of contemporary artists celebrating local and international diversity. Or utilize the new spring season to arise your visual and audial senses by attending some carefully chosen performances in one of the four performing venues onsite.
April and May have a variety of touring engagements including Derek Hough’s high-energy Latin and ballroom dancing.
If a ballet is something you’ve always wanted to explore, you’ll be pleased to choose from a lineup of one of the most popular ballets of all time, Swan Lake. This ballet tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. The performance includes a live orchestra and consists of professional dancers from 10 different countries. Two evening performances are available for ticket purchases in May.
Keep things smooth and jazzy this spring with sounds of Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer, Chris Botti. The Friday evening performance scheduled in April would make an extraordinary date night.
After exploring the Mesa Arts Center and enjoying performances, you’ll likely develop an affection for the vibrant local campus. Excitingly, a diverse array of classes await, catering to both youth and adults. From ceramics and painting to photography and movement, your next creative adventure is within reach!
As Daniel Libeskind’s quote suggests, art and culture are not only luxuries in life, but they also play important roles in shaping who we are as people. They foster connections and help enrich our experiences. In fact, he suggests, art and culture highlight the significance of human existence.
To view a more complete list of shows, classes, and performances, visit the Mesa Arts Center website.
For more information, visit the Mesa Arts Center at 1 E. Main St., Mesa AZ 85201. Call (480) 644-6500 or visit the website at mesaartscenter.com.