Art All Year

Artists draw inspiration from breathtaking natural beauty, so it’s no wonder Bend has one of the most vibrant art scenes in the Pacific Northwest.

The city is home to nationally-recognized artists, musicians, filmmakers, painters, writers, and other creatives. Enjoy movie theaters, museums, art galleries, and dinner theater all year long.

Bend is home to countless festivals and events nearly every month of the year. From the holiday shows at our historic Tower Theatre, to the free Munch & Music summer concert series in Drake Park, to the BendFilm Festival in October, you’ll find your arts and culture fix all year long.

Revel in Bend’s art scene the first Friday of each month during First Friday Art Walk. Live music fills the streets as shops and art galleries stay open late to showcase artists and their work.

While you’re Downtown, take a walk through one of the many alleys filled with a world-class collection of local artwork as part of the Tin Pan Alley Art Collection.

For the performing arts passionate, take in a show at the Tower Theatre, which features everything from concerts to plays to classic films. The venue is a 1940s Art Deco Moderne theater that was fully renovated in 2004 to become Bend’s premier stage. You can even rent the space for major events and conventions.

Craving more live music? Get your groove on at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. The venue has attracted artists including Paul Simon, Brandi Carlile, John Legend, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews Band, Norah Jones, Luke Bryan, and many more. Popular shows sell out during the summer, so get your tickets early at bendconcerts. com. Then show up and get your groove on beside the sparkling Deschutes River.

If it’s a different sort of music that makes your heart sing, check out OperaBend or High Desert Chamber Music and get your culture fix while you’re here. Don’t miss Jazz at the Oxford in Bend’s swanky Oxford Hotel happening through the winter months. Pro tip: Shows sell out fast, so buy tickets well in advance.

Ever find yourself saying, “This art would be awesome if only I had otters a few feet away?” The High Desert Museum has you covered! While folks know it best as a place to check out wildlife and natural history, they’re also home to a vast collection of Native American art, along with rotating cultural exhibits and sculptures scattered around the campus.

Want to know more about the various arts organizations making all this awesome art possible in Bend? Check out Art in Public Places. You can also read up on the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund (BCTF), which is a grant program dedicated to enhancing the local economy through the promotion and cultivation of Bend’s cultural tourism programs.

BENDCULTUREGRANTS.COM