Experience the Arts and Culture in Long Beach
From art museums to historic ranchos, curate your own cultural experience when you visit Long Beach.
Museums, Galleries, and Historic Sites
Dark Art Emporium: 256 ELM AVENUE
The Dark Art Emporium is a diverse environment dedicated to showcasing the artists and creators that often fly under the radar of most people's perception of fine art. Here you will find everything from real human skulls, creepy dolls, unorthodox taxidermy, low brow and dark fine art.
Long Beach Museum of Art: 2300 EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD
The Long Beach Museum of Art is located on a magnificent bluff overlooking the Long Beach Harbor, Catalina Island, the Queen Mary and the Pacific Ocean. The Museum’s permanent collection is diverse with more than 3,200 works encompassing 300 years of American and European art in all media. Check the museum’s website to find out about current and future exhibitions!
Museum of Latin American Art
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) was founded in 1996 in Long Beach, California and serves the greater Los Angeles area. It is the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art. MOLAA exhibits art from 20 Latin American countries by artists who are well known in their own countries but little known in the United States. Check their website for special events and current exhibitions.
Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch And Gardens: 6400 EAST BIXBY HILL ROAD
Rancho Los Alamitos is a place for all time: listed on the National Register of Historic Places twice—as the sacred Gabrielino, or Tongva village of Povuu’ngna and also for its adobe core ranch house c.1800, four acres of lush historic gardens, and the restored barns area that recalls the great ranching heritage of Southern California from the early-mid 20th century. The Rancho makes a beautiful venue for private events and weddings. Visit for a tour of the gardens, barn and the main house or plan a trip for one of their educational special events! Check their website for hours and upcoming events.
Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site: 4600 VIRGINIA ROAD
Built in 1844, the adobe home and grounds echo with the rich history of Spanish, Mexican and American California and with the families who helped transform Southern California from its ranching beginnings to a modern, urban society. Explore the famous Rancho Los Cerritos gardens and house by yourself or with a group. Not to mention it makes a great venue for private events and weddings! Check their website for hours and special seasonal events!
Performance Art
International City Theatre: Performs at the Beverly O'Neill Theater
International City Theatre (ICT) an award-winning professional regional theatre, (non-profit) performing at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. ICT performs a five-play season and runs six community and educational outreach programs. Their productions and programs reach more than 35,000 people a year. Check their season schedule to see what’s playing when you’re in town!
Long Beach Ballet: Performs at the Long Beach Terrace Theater
The Long Beach Ballet is celebrating its 36th Anniversary as one of Southern California’s leading classical ballet institutions. This group performs the Nutcracker annually at the Long Beach Terrace Theater each weekend in December. Make this a wonderful holiday tradition for your family!
Long Beach Camarata Singers
The Long Beach Camerata Singers is a fully auditioned 90-voice ensemble, including 12 paid professional singers and is now supported by a part-time staff of five. As testimony to its artistic excellence, Camerata Singers became the artistic partner of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra in April, 2015. They’re most well-known for their Handel’s Messiah Concert during the holiday season. Check their website for upcoming performances.
Long Beach Opera: 3029 E SOUTH ST
Founded in 1979, the Long Beach Opera is the oldest operatic producing company in the metropolitan Los Angeles/Orange County region. The company is well known for its alternative vision for opera – to present striking visual drama that would speak directly to contemporary audiences while maintaining the highest musical standard. Check their website to find out about the current season & to buy tickets!
Long Beach Playhouse: 5021 EAST ANAHEIM STREET
Over eighty continuous years of quality live theatrical entertainment have established the Long Beach Playhouse as an icon in the City of Long Beach. Long Beach's flagship arts organization cuts across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. The Playhouse produces 13 shows annually on the Mainstage or upstairs in the Studio Theater, while offering classes for all ages, a professionally curated art gallery, new play readings, and collaborative co-productions with other Long Beach Arts Organizations. Find out what’s in-house the next time you’re in town!
Long Beach Symphony
Long Beach Symphony produces six full symphonic Classical concerts throughout the year at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center Terrace Theater and five POPS! concert events in the Long Beach Arena’s Pacific Ballroom, attracting more than 35,000 residents annually. They’re even designing a new concert series for families to be presented in Spring 2018! Check their website to find out when their next performance is; this is truly a special Long Beach experience.
Musica Angelica: Performs throughout the LA area
For over twenty three years, Musica Angelica has been bringing the thrill of musical discovery to Southern California audiences. Whether uncovering forgotten gems or giving new life to cherished masterworks, these musicians delight in delivering uplifting performances, imparting an infectious enthusiasm, and yes, they play those wonderful period instruments. Go back in time with this unique Long Beach treasure. Check their website for their current season.
Musical Theatre West: In residence at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center and the Beverly O’Neill Theater
Regaled as Southern California’s Premier Musical Theater Group! Musical Theatre West continues to assert itself as one of the top companies in the area, utilizing professional talent and producing regional premieres and even a world premiere musical (1992’s HURRY! HURRY! HOLLYWOOD), while continuing to honor the tradition of classic musical theater. The company often receives critical acclaim and national recognition – and many performers who cut their teeth on the MTW stage have gone on to successful careers on Broadway and in television and film. Check their website to find out about their current season.
Organizations with Art and Cultural Significance
Arts Council for Long Beach: 350 ELM AVENUE
The Arts Council for the City of Long Beach is a leading source of information for advancing the arts in Southern California. Check their website before your visit to find local exhibits, performances, and screenings throughout the city, plus special events!
Historical Society of Long Beach: 4260 ATLANTIC AVENUE
The Historical Society of Long Beach collects, preserves and presents local history. Using historical documents, photographs, artifacts, and oral and written stories the HSLB creates exhibits and public programs that connect people to the places they live. They host special events throughout the year, but arguably their most popular event is the Annual Historical Cemetery Tour. Check their calendar to see if they have any programming when you’re in town or stop by to see their exhibitions.
Long Beach Art Walk
Occurring on the second Saturday of very month, the Long Beach Art Walk is a great way to experience local artists, artisans, and musicians. The map varies for each month, so you’ll experience something each time you participate!
Long Beach Heritage: 953 PARK CIRCLE
Long Beach Heritage works to promote public knowledge and preservation of significant historical and architectural resources, neighborhoods, and the cultural heritage of Long Beach. They offer regularly scheduled walking tours of the architectural and historic sites of Downtown Long Beach, the East Village Art District, North Pine Avenue and Willmore City. Check their website to which tour is scheduled during your visit!
