23 Jun 2008
Long Beach�s Sundry Arts and Culture Elevates the City�s Immense Offerings

Visit Long Beach

Long Beach is home to an eclectic and diverse range of artistic and cultural venues. The city�s two distinctive art museums house very different collections. The Long Beach Museum of Art features a 1912 Craftsman mansion perched atop picturesque Bluff Park. The adjacent gallery building houses a collection of ceramics, decorative arts and contemporary paintings. The Museum of Latin American Art is the only museum in the western U.S. that presents cutting edge artists from Mexico, Central and South America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean.

The East Village district of Long Beach is emerging as the heart of the city�s artistic community. A stroll past the area�s historic buildings will reveal distinctive shops and galleries showcasing sculpture, paintings, ceramics, jewelry and designer clothing. The City of Long Beach has shown a deep respect to its architectural heritage, preserving dozens of historic turn of the century buildings and homes.

Long Beach is host to a wide range of theater, music and dance performances. The Performing Arts Center, part of the Long Beach Convention Center complex, has two modern, fully equipped theaters.

The 800 seat Center Theater is home for the International City Theatre Company. An innovative theatrical group that has amassed dozens of awards for acting, directing and design, ICT is nationally recognized for its creativity and excellence.

The 3,000 seat Terrace Theater is home for the Long Beach Symphony and newly appointed musical director, Enrique Arturo Diemecke, a world-class maestro and composer. The Terrace Theater also hosts numerous traveling companies performing Broadway musicals, concerts and dance performances.

In other parts of our city, theatergoers can be treated to drama and comedy at The Long Beach Playhouse; Broadway musicals with Musical Theater West; cutting edge opera with The Long Beach Opera Company, and several homegrown theatrical companies such as the Edison Theater, The Found Theater, and the Garage Theater.

On Pine Avenue in downtown Long Beach and throughout the city, dozens of restaurants and clubs offer a virtual banquet of musical entertainment. Flamenco dancers, Salsa music, Greek belly dancers, live blues and jazz performances and much more are within easy walking distance or a short shuttle ride from downtown hotels.

Even history buffs will find something to see in Long Beach. Relive the glorious hey-day of Trans-Atlantic travel aboard the Queen Mary or stroll through the rooms and gardens of two authentic and faithfully restored 1800�s Spanish ranchos.

With its many artistic, historic and cultural options, Long Beach truly offers something for everyone.

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Media Contacts:
Bob Maguglin
(562) 495-8345
bobm@longbeachcvb.org
-OR-
MeganRodriguez
(562) 495-8326
meganr@longbeachcvb.org