When people talk about arts and culture, they usually mean both galleries and music venues as well as museums and theatres. Los Angeles has more arts and culture venues than any other city in the United States. Thanks to this broad variety of venues, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re especially interested in visiting art galleries or prefer to admire historic works of art, we really have it all in LA. Some venues are free to visit at certain times, which is especially true for our museums, and there’s no obligation to make a purchase at the art galleries or record shops listed below. 

The foundation of our city’s culture can be found in our museums

There are a wealth of treasures, just waiting to be discovered, across a vast range of museums in Los Angeles. Having such variety in venues means that there can be great specialism in each one. One such specialised venue is MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the only artist-founded museum in LA which collects and exhibits contemporary art, and does not charge for admission unless it is Geffen special exhibition, although these are sometimes free on the first Friday of the month. LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) is a broader venue which boasts both breathtaking modernist pieces and eye-catching contemporary works, but its special exhibitions are always the prize of this establishment, which is free on weekdays after 3pm for L.A. County residents. The Getty Center is also home to some impressive art, which includes recognisable Impressionist works and rotating exhibitions, but while admission is free timed tickets, the parking costs can be pricey.

Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is much more than the name suggests, with museum collections that shouldn’t be missed, although it is specifically the botanical gardens which make The Huntington so treasured: it is, by far, the most beautiful in the region, according to Time Out, and is free to everyone on the first Thursday of every month, though advance tickets are required. We also can’t talk about the arts and culture of LA without mentioning the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures! It is Hollywood, after all. This specialised museum is full of cinematic treasures, and for an extra fee, you can even hold the famous Oscars statuette.

Keep your eyes on the latest art coming out of LA

For some people, visiting art galleries is the best way to understand the culture and heritage of a city. Los Angeles being such a melting pot of different backgrounds and languages has some of the most gorgeous galleries around. The Blum gallery nowadays represents over 50 different artists across a real range of media, whilst still bringing international artists to American shores. Commonwealth and Council is home to Young Chung’s community of emerging artists of colour, queer art and artists who have intersecting identities, and this community means artists always find time for intimate shows here with Chung, even when there are bigger events on their schedule.

At Hauser & Wirth, their gallery in the arts district curates a wide variety of work both indoors and outdoors at a former flour mill, and proves to any outside visitor the true value of the LA art scene, showcasing work from both established names and emerging newcomers, and the on-site restaurant Manuela is the main beneficiary of vegetable beds and chicken coops located here too. Finally, we can’t talk about galleries without mentioning the long-established New Image Art. Setup in 1994, it is one of the oldest artist-run galleries in Los Angeles. Making its name as a venue for emerging, underrepresented contemporary artists, the venue has previously been home to artists before they make the step up to galleries like Blum and makes space for more adventurous media too, such as collaborations with artists in skate and other alternative cultures.

On stage and in your ears, music is at home in Los Angeles

Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra; © Miguel Martinez

Whilst museums and galleries are what tourists often browse while visiting a city for the first time, arguably it is the live music venues and record shops which is where you can find the locals making the most of their local arts and culture. Los Angeles is home to the Hollywood Bowl, an 18,000 seat amphitheater which is so often regarded as a must-play venue for artists, regardless of their genre. The stage here has been graced by everyone from Billy Holiday and The Beatles, right up to Linkin Park and Billie Eilish. For a more intimate show, big-name rock and indie bands love to sign up to play at the Teragram Ballroom, with its 600-person capacity allowing every ticket holder to get as close to the music as possible for a gig here. The acoustics in the room are fantastic and allows you to feel immersed in the sound quality during the show, which takes place on a 30ft stage. 

Troubadour has been a firm fixture in the LA music scene since it opened in the late 1950s, where the nightclub has helped launch some of the biggest contemporary music careers, including both Elton John and Randy Newman in their earliest days. Artists as diverse as Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay, Orville Peck and Bastille have all played here in the 21st century, continuing to prove the rich history of the venue. Where would these artists be if their music wasn’t sought after, so where better to pick up new and used vinyl, CDs and DVDs in Los Angeles than High-Fidelity, which is also regularly host to in-house shows from local bands, often for free. Their excellent staff are always helpful, and the store is host to a range of refurbished hi-fi equipment too. 

Performing arts fill stages throughout the city, all year round.

The final mainstream, traditional, pillar of arts and culture is the performing arts theatres, and whilst Los Angeles is not Broadway, or London’s West End, we are still home to some of the most prestigious venues in the country. One of which is the Geffen Playhouse, which is continually home to both staging new work and also local premieres. These productions frequently feature big name talent, and on Saturday mornings there are often kid-friendly productions taking place. 

For those who are more interested in a classical style theatre company, A Noise Within in Pasadena is home to an ensemble who perform two seasons of three productions in repertory since 2011, whilst Royce Hall, located at UCLA, is a 1,800 capacity theatre which has been home to legendary performances over the last 100 years, which includes Duke Ellington, as well as philharmonic performances and productions of film scores.  

It is easy to forget what is on our doorstep, particularly when so many of our arts and cultural institutions have free entry timeslots for local residents. Hopefully we’ve been able to inspire you to look at the latest calendar of exhibitions and performances so that you can make the most of Los Angeles’ unique melting pot culture through our arts programmes.

Title image: Getty Center; © Jerome Dominici