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Culture: Expanding Horizons

The City of Fresno is a community of cultural celebrations, whether it is honoring the customs of its diverse population, relishing the sophistication of stage performances or enjoying the natural beauty of its land through festivals.

The city is home to many cultural celebrations throughout the year, honoring the diverse backgrounds of its many residents. Fresno understands the importance of recognizing the many cultures, faiths and interests that make it such a vibrant community.

One such event is the annual Mexican Independence Day celebration, which includes lively mariachi music and plenty of authentic Mexican Cuisine. The Hmong New Year Celebration is one of the largest cultural events for the Hmong in the United States. Over 200,000 people have attended over an eight-year span.

Each October sees the arrival of thousands who visit Fresno to enjoy the Big Fresno Fair – complete with entertainment, horse racing, plenty of dining selections, as well as agriculture and cultural exhibits. The Fresno Convention Center is the site of many popular events throughout the year including the Cesar Chavez Celebration and the Viva El Mariachi Festival.

Many museums exist throughout Fresno that are dedicated to the arts and many that showcase a particular heritage. Among these are the Fresno Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum, the Meux Home, the African American Historical and Cultural Museum, and the Legion of Valor Museum housed by the Fresno Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

The Meux Home is a classic Victorian house built in 1988 by Dr. T.R. Meux. Noteworthy because of its history and architecture, the home is owned by the city and is open for tours and small weddings. The African American Historical and Cultural Museum houses permanent and rotating exhibits that illustrate the history and culture of African Americans in the Fresno area. Finally, the Legion of Valor Museum houses thousands of items donated by Legion of Valor members and others. These items help tell the story of America’s wars as seen by the brave men and women who fought them.

The performing arts are also popular in Fresno, and at virtually any time of the year, visitors and residents alike will have no problem finding live theatre or music to entertain. Several venues for the performing arts exist throughout town. The Tower District is home to several theaters including the historic Tower Theatre, truly the crown jewel of the area. Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater offers patrons fantastic entertainment while dining. The Second Space Theater with only 150 seats provides entertainment by the Good Company Players.

National celebrities often perform at the SaveMart Center located on the campus of California State University, Fresno. The indoor arena hosts a variety of nationally renowned music acts and is home of the Fresno State Falcons.

California State University’s theater also hosts numerous student-produced and multicultural-cast performances. Fresno City College’s theater is a virtual showcase for students’ work in dance, music and drama.

For those who enjoy getting a bit more involved, the Fresno Tango Society, the Fresno Audubon Society, the Fresno Dixieland Society, and the Fresno Folklore Society offer numerous opportunities to participate in a variety of activities and events. The Fresno Arts Council is one of the driving forces behind the cultural events in the city. Established in 1979, this private, nonprofit organization works to create a voice for the arts in the central San Joaquin Valley and enrich people’s lives through the arts.

The Council sponsors several activities and events, including ArtHop, which happens the first Thursday evening of each month. Over 50 artists’ studios, galleries and museums are open on that night, free of charge, to the public. With the cooperation of city staff, the Council developed a program in 1992 that offers exhibit opportunities at the City Hall for amateur and professional artists, community arts groups and organizations, local schools and senior citizens.

Philharmonic Vitality in Fresno
The Fresno Philharmonic is one of the leading vital signs of an increasingly robust cultural scene in the San Joaquin Valley and the movement to revitalize downtown Fresno. For over 54 years, the Philharmonic has been delivering great performances and educational services to the community. “The Phil” at the Saroyan Theatre is one of the most exciting regional orchestras in the country.

Getting to the Saroyan Theatre has never been easier. At the corner of “M” and Inyo streets in the heart of the Fresno Convention Center, the Saroyan is just a couple of blocks off Freeway 41 at the “O” Street exit. Plenty of parking is available in the area.

Music Director Theodore Kuchar is one of the most recorded conductors in the world today, and under his leadership the Philharmonic has honed its artistic caliber, attracting some of the leading soloists in the world and taking on some of the most difficult works in the repertoire. No longer does one need to travel to San Francisco or Los Angeles to see the likes of Itzhak Perlman, Lang Lang, or Lynn Harrell. World-renowned musicians are making Fresno one of the regular stops on their global circuit.

In addition to the regular subscription series and the occasional special event with a world-renowned guest artist, the Philharmonic also appears with the Fresno Grand Opera and Lively Art’s Nutcracker ballet. Plans are also underway to launch a music festival during June that will seek to focus regional attention on the Philharmonic and attract cultural tourism to the Valley.

Education is an important part of the Philharmonic’s mission. Every year, Philharmonic ensembles visit over 40 area schools and serve nearly 10,000 students with “Up Close and Classical” concerts and an annual family concert. The Fresno Philharmonic operates on a budget of just over $2 million with approximately half earned through ticket revenues, and the rest through individual contributions, grants, and corporate sponsorships. With its growing artistic reputation and increased services to the community through great performances and education, the Fresno Philharmonic is a sound investment in the cultural life of Fresno.

Fresno Metropolitan Museum
In 1978, a group of Fresno civic leaders began to explore the possibility of creating a regional museum for the San Joaquin Valley. From 1981-1985, these members of the community raised more than $5.5 million to open the Met in the historic downtown building site of the Fresno Bee. The Museum opened its doors to the community on April 4, 1984. Since that time, the Museum has educated, enriched and entertained nearly three million people with its programs in art and science.

Striking a fine balance between its signature exhibitions and traveling exhibitions, the Met serves an extremely diverse family audience. Recent large traveling exhibitions include: Georgia O’Keeffe: Visions of the Sublime; A T. Rex Named Sue; Masterworks from the Albertina; Grandes Maestros of Mexican Folk Art; and Grossology.

The Met is also home to the Reeves ASK Science Center. Developed through a partnership with San Francisco’s acclaimed Exploratorium, the ASK Science Center provides easy access to hands-on exhibitions that have inspired and educated thousand of visitors and school-children throughout Central California in an environment unlike any between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

A large-scale renovation of the Met’s nationally registered historic building is currently underway through 2008. The Met’s programming will continue with planned exhibitions and special events throughout the community and the Reeves ASK Science Center is open in a temporary location just a few blocks away at 933 Van Ness Avenue in downtown Fresno.

The current renovation is one of the first steps toward the Met’s ultimate goal: providing an expanded museum facility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.