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Reno, Nevada

Reno Arts: Art Scene in Reno

Although “The Biggest Little City in the World” is synonymous with gaming, Reno has far more to offer as a cultural destination than one might expect. Reno is home to many fine art museums and contemporary art galleries located in the city’s historic downtown. The performing arts are also blossoming here, with classical music, opera and current Broadway blockbusters all enjoying exceptional productions at the state-of-the-art Pioneer Center for Performing Arts. Artown, Reno’s month-long summer celebration of over 300 arts related events happens every July here, and welcomes thousands of visitors annually.

Reno Arts Information

  • Reno Gazette-Journal—Features, reviews, and user comments about both local and national arts and entertainment offerings
  • reno.com—Information source for both locals and travelers, with a great entertainment and arts & culture section
  • VisitReno.com—Reno entertainment schedule.

Art Museums

Nevada Museum of Art

Although this modest Reno art museum can’t easily compare with the nation’s better-known collections, there is still some wonderful art here, including the striking pieces in the Altered Landscape Photography Collection and the regional art of the Sierra Nevada / Great Basin Collection. The NMA also hosts some fine traveling exhibitions (Raphael’s “The Woman With the Veil” recently made an appearance). Visitors …more…

Theater

Bruka Theatre

Originally a children’s theater, Bruka has expanded to become an edgy community theater that also happens to perform kids’ fare. The Bruka mainstage is always busy, filled with everything from an intimate play like Tracy Letts’ Bug to the epic Angels in America. Bruka loves the odd, whether it’s the “blasphemous yuletide tale” The Weber Family Christmas, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, or brother-sister …more…

Reno Little Theater

The Reno Little Theater has been serving the community since 1935. It is an amateur theater, but the RLT does not shy away from challenging material. A given season may include a contemporary play (Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan, Sarah Ruhl’s Euridyce), a classic (Becket, A Streetcar Named Desire), and one or two shows that are new or little-known. ...more...

Classical Music

Reno Philharmonic

Repeatedly dubbed Reno’s “Best Performing Arts Group” by the readers of the Reno Gazette-Journal, the Reno Philharmonic is comprised of more than 60 professional musicians. Music director Laura Jackson and the orchestra perform in Reno, Carson Valley, and the Lake Tahoe region in both indoor and outdoor venues. The Reno Philharmonic Association has a strong educational component, which brings music to children through …more…

Opera

Nevada Opera

Founded in 1967, the Nevada Opera presents a few operas a year at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts under the baton of artistic director Michael Borowitz. They also offer an annual “Jukebox Opera” evening in the fall, a night of drinks and dining accompanied by opera company members singing highlights from various operas and hits from Broadway. ...more...

Jazz

Reno Jazz Festival

(April) Since its inception in 1962, the Reno Jazz Festival has grown in size and stature to become one of the largest festivals of its kind in the nation. Every April, tens of thousands of participants, guests, student groups and invited performers descend on the campus of University of Nevada, Reno for three days of performances by everyone from the beginner-level student performer to the top-tier jazz legend. Artists like …more…

Multi-Arts Festivals

Artown (Reno, NV)

(July 1-31, 2012) Every July, Reno truly becomes “Art town” as cultural events flood the downtown. Wingfield Park is ground zero for the festival, where there are multiple events occurring on any given day. Numerous other Reno venues also host concerts, exhibitions, and other arts events during the festival. Impressively, over half of Artown’s offerings are now completely free, from children’s art workshops and puppet shows to dance performances and movie screenings. ...more...

Venues

Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts

Located in downtown Reno, the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts is the heart of the Reno arts scene. Most of the city’s major arts organizations, including the Reno Philharmonic and the Nevada Opera, perform at this 1,500-seat venue. The Pioneer Center also hosts Broadway Comes To Reno!, a series that brings in Broadway national tours of popular musicals like Avenue Q and …more…

Art Museums

Nevada Museum of Art

Although this modest Reno art museum can’t easily compare with the nation’s better-known collections, there is still some wonderful art here, including the striking pieces in the Altered Landscape Photography Collection and the regional art of the Sierra Nevada / Great Basin Collection. The NMA also hosts some fine traveling exhibitions (Raphael’s “The Woman With the Veil” recently made an appearance). Visitors …more…

Theater

Bruka Theatre

Originally a children’s theater, Bruka has expanded to become an edgy community theater that also happens to perform kids’ fare. The Bruka mainstage is always busy, filled with everything from an intimate play like Tracy Letts’ Bug to the epic Angels in America. Bruka loves the odd, whether it’s the “blasphemous yuletide tale” The Weber Family Christmas, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, or brother-sister …more…

Reno Little Theater

The Reno Little Theater has been serving the community since 1935. It is an amateur theater, but the RLT does not shy away from challenging material. A given season may include a contemporary play (Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan, Sarah Ruhl’s Euridyce), a classic (Becket, A Streetcar Named Desire), and one or two shows that are new or little-known. ...more...

Classical Music

Reno Philharmonic

Repeatedly dubbed Reno’s “Best Performing Arts Group” by the readers of the Reno Gazette-Journal, the Reno Philharmonic is comprised of more than 60 professional musicians. Music director Laura Jackson and the orchestra perform in Reno, Carson Valley, and the Lake Tahoe region in both indoor and outdoor venues. The Reno Philharmonic Association has a strong educational component, which brings music to children through …more…

Opera

Nevada Opera

Founded in 1967, the Nevada Opera presents a few operas a year at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts under the baton of artistic director Michael Borowitz. They also offer an annual “Jukebox Opera” evening in the fall, a night of drinks and dining accompanied by opera company members singing highlights from various operas and hits from Broadway. ...more...

Jazz

Reno Jazz Festival

(April) Since its inception in 1962, the Reno Jazz Festival has grown in size and stature to become one of the largest festivals of its kind in the nation. Every April, tens of thousands of participants, guests, student groups and invited performers descend on the campus of University of Nevada, Reno for three days of performances by everyone from the beginner-level student performer to the top-tier jazz legend. Artists like …more…

Multi-Arts Festivals

Artown (Reno, NV)

(July 1-31, 2012) Every July, Reno truly becomes “Art town” as cultural events flood the downtown. Wingfield Park is ground zero for the festival, where there are multiple events occurring on any given day. Numerous other Reno venues also host concerts, exhibitions, and other arts events during the festival. Impressively, over half of Artown’s offerings are now completely free, from children’s art workshops and puppet shows to dance performances and movie screenings. ...more...

Venues

Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts

Located in downtown Reno, the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts is the heart of the Reno arts scene. Most of the city’s major arts organizations, including the Reno Philharmonic and the Nevada Opera, perform at this 1,500-seat venue. The Pioneer Center also hosts Broadway Comes To Reno!, a series that brings in Broadway national tours of popular musicals like Avenue Q and …more…