Live performances and an impressive art collection draw many visitors to this diverse centre in Arizona.
The Mesa Arts Center features five galleries, four theatres, and fourteen studios it is open every day, offering cultural activities to the public. This unique facility allows visitors to view art, learn about art, and create art. The Mesa Arts Center’s mission is to inspire people through engaging artistic experiences that are diverse, accessible, and relevant.
This beautiful, contemporary museum was created in 2005 in Mesa, roughly a 45-minute drive east of Phoenix. The architects who designed the complex wanted to reflect the character of the Sonoran Desert using jagged angles, glass walls, and coloured glass canopies. Outside lie exotic gardens and water features, an area to soothe and inspire. There are no restaurants in the centre, but tickets include a discount at many surrounding restaurants as a part of the Eats and Arts initiative.
Aside from being visually stunning, the Mesa Arts Center offers visitors the unique experience of being able to take in a live performance in either an intimate 99-seat theatre or a massive 1,600-seat one. Some of the options include classical music, popular music, dance, comedy, and family shows. The centre even features a very special live series: National Geographic Live!
The five galleries display paintings, sculpture, and ceramics from both established and up-and-coming artists, and the many studios offer classes which allow for you try your hand at being creative as well. Classes are offered for both children and adults, and range from beading and ceramics to ballet—there is even a drama class for toddlers.
The programs are constantly changing, so visitors are always in for a new treat when they arrive, and the art extends well beyond the borders of the building. The Shadow Walk, a promenade in the inner courtyard, is the perfect place to stroll and enjoy the natural beauty outdoors it was designed to show the patterns formed by foliage, trellises, and overhead canopies under the intense desert un. If you are lucky, you can catch a lunchtime concert or impromptu performance.
