Mesa Arts Center

The Mesa Arts Center is a performing and visual arts complex that is dedicated to showcasing the very best in dance, theatre, music, art and comedy. The largest of its kind in Arizona, this exceptional facility recently received a ‘Venue Excellence Award’ from the International Association of Venue Managers, fending off stiff competition from the illustrious Sydney Opera House. This fantastic arts centre has a great choice of events, workshops, shows and exhibitions that will engage, challenge and inspire visitors from all walks of life.This stunning complex is a postmodern architectural showstopper and features four theatres, five art galleries and fourteen art studios. Designed to reflect the unique nuances of the Sonoran Desert, the jagged angles and sloped glass walls of the exterior buildings are smoothly juxtaposed with the lush greenery of the central walkway.Known as the Shadow Walk, this beautifully landscaped space runs through the heart of the complex. Flanked by a variety of exotic plants and water features, this stretch provides a cool shady space from which to escape the hot Phoenix sun. Enjoy this walk as a work of art in its own right art as the sunlight dapples through the stainless steel canopies creating a wonderful dance of shadows. If you’re lucky, you might even catch the occasional outdoor lunchtime concert here.The remit of this artistic centre is to engage visitors across a diverse spectrum of disciplines using a consistently fresh and exciting programme of events. Performance spaces range from the intimate Farnsworth Studio Theater to the cavernous Ikeda Theater and include five remarkable art galleries that showcase the very best in art, painting, ceramics and sculpture from emerging local artists.There is something for everyone at this exciting arts centre so whether you’re a culture vulture or would just like to sit back and enjoy a show, this is the place for you. Only 32 kilometres east of the city centre, it would be a real shame to miss this superb Phoenix attraction.