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    Tempe Center for the Arts

    4.4 (101 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Tempe Center for the Arts Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Tempe Center for the Arts

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    Tempe Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge
    Travis T.

    This is such a beautiful visual arts center. I love when I am walking or skateboarding around Tempe Town Lake and pass by this place at night. You can see the neon signs through the window from the outside by the waterfall. Tempe Center for the Arts is both a theater and an art gallery. They are located on the southwest side of Tempe Town Lake near the dam and the pedestrian bridge. Tempe Center for the Arts is not even twenty years old yet. It still looks brand new. I have a seen a few shows here that were put on by Arizona Theatre Company in the 600-seat proscenium theater. They also have another theater that hosts orchestra concerts and other live events. The art gallery is free to check out. It hosts different large and small-scale art exhibitions from various artists each season. Outside is a sculpture garden. Arizona Theatre Company has been around for over fifty years and always put on a good show. Ticket prices are what you would pay at any small theater. You can find a list of their shows on the Tempe Center for the Arts website. Sometimes they host free Ballet Under the Stars nights just outside on the lawn by the lake. We have gotten groups together and set up lawn chairs and have always had a good time. They have open-mic nights on Walk-In Wednesdays and pianists that come in and perform for free in their Lakeside Room. There is a bar that serves drinks and light bites during nights that they have a show. If you don't have an opportunity to catch a theater show here, at least come by and enjoy one of their free events that they offer and check out the art gallery. This is a beautiful place to visit. There is a parking garage to the west or park a little farther in the dirt lot for free.

    Norm W.

    First concert at Tempe Center for the Arts. Excellent venue, sound and scenery. Drop off, parking and access were easy. Ticket pricing was reasonable and student tickets. They also validate your parking.. I like it! Saw Kandice Springs September 24, 2024. Loved it!!

    Brooke P.

    Love this beautiful venue. Been here multiple times for dance shows. So thankful for the comfortable seating! It's also right next to Tempe town lake and a walking bridge so if you have time go walk around near by and enjoy the views. If you park in the garage near by bring in your parking ticket because they might be able to validate it depending on the show.

    TCA is a terrific location for this blood drive to rebuild the blood supply for every hospital in Maricopa County after the holidays.

    Beautiful location to save lives with each blood donation. Plenty of parking. Vital timing to rebuild blood supply for every hospital in Maricopa County .

    Beth B.

    I regularly receive City of Tempe emails and was excited to hear about a free Backstage Pass event put on by the Tempe Center for the Arts and Tempe councilwoman, Doreen Garlid. My boyfriend and I have attended performances at the Tempe Center for the Arts in the past, but we were excited to have a chance to tour the facility and learn more about its architecture. This was a fun event on 3/2/2022. We parked in their new covered parking lot and were able to have our parking ticket validated for this event. The tour started at 5:30 pm and was led by Tempe Center for the Arts staff and one of the architects who designed the building. We got to explore the Lakeside Room, gallery, sculpture garden (I didn't even know they had a sculpture garden!), and backstage area. The information was fascinating and we were able to ask lots of questions. The evening ended with a reception at 6:30 pm outside on the patio, overlooking the picturesque Tempe Town Lake. Councilwoman Doreen Garlid answered questions and chatted with the crowd. We even got to hear about a friendly ghost that inhabits the Tempe Center for the Arts. It was truly a fantastic event!

    Pre-concert.
    Martha C.

    I've been here several times in the past few months. It is once of the most spectacular venues in the East Valley. It is iconic in the City of Tempe with its pitched roof soaring toward the skies. You've probably seen in the Sky Harbor Airport. I attended a concert there this past weekend and the acoustics are great. The sound resonates throughout the entire auditorium and it's lovely. The seats are really comfy too. For this concert, the parking was complimentary. My guess is that not many folks knew that since many parked in the adjacent dirt lot. I was going to a pay to park in the structure regardless. What I love about the large auditorium is the wood on the walls. It warms the place and give is such an elegant look. I was told my the architect that the wood is cherry stained oak. There is a rooftop space as well that I was able to tour as part of my leadership group in Tempe. Also there is a wonderful venue in the space located near the negative edge pool. My goal is to be a regular patron. I love being there!

    Gallery
    Daleena R.

    My daughter and I attended Barefoot in the Park this afternoon. We were very impressed with everything from the parking to the venue to the views , staff were so friendly, and the production was just adorable. We will definitely keep an eye on upcoming performances and go again.

    Shakira M.

    My first and last time coming to this arts center. Went to the see The Whiz. The Arts Center sent notice to everyone that there was construction going on and advised patrons to arrive 30 minutes and that we could park in the Ashe Avenue Parking Garage what they didn't mention was that in addition to the construction going on around them, the street the garage was on was under construction and we spent time just trying to figure out where to go. We arrive at the parking garage mentioned in the email ONLY to find out the attendants had no clue what I was talking about when I mentioned they were suppose to accept our tickets for admission. I then had to sit there and read it to them and they let us in. On top of that, the email also mentioned that there would be shuttles to take people from the parking garage to the the arts center. Of course, we couldn't find the shuttle and when I called the number on the email to the box office, I was informed that 1. That parking lot didn't have anything to do with the center and 2. There was no shuttle there. I have included the email that was sent. We arrived and no one gave us a play billboard or directed us to where we could sit although one of the women told us someone would. Unfortunately, this left such a bad taste in my mouth, I would never be back.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Tempe Center for the Arts

    Is it Walker accessible to the seats?

    Is there parking on site? If not, is parking difficult?

    Yes, there is free parking, and it is a bit dusty in the lot due to construction.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Tempe Center for the Arts

    . The venue is situated on Tempe Town Lake and the views from the large windows at the back are breath taking

    Mentioned in 14 reviews

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    Wonderspaces Arizona - Installation

    Wonderspaces Arizona

    4.2(248 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$

    Very fun and interactive art pieces! Make sure to pull up the descriptions on your phone for an…read moreeven better experience. Some fun pieces, some unique, and some inspirational artwork as well.

    Bestie was in town and she had this genius idea to visit Wonderspaces Arizona. She's been to the…read moreSan Diego one twice and loved it, so I was excited to see what it's all about. This place is beyond cool! There are different rooms to experience, and each one is truly unique. I think I speak for us both when I say the one with the string lights was the most entertaining visually. The light show lasted about 15 minutes total from beginning to end. When you first walk in through the mall entrance, you'll end up at the bar area. Alex was so nice and very engaging. She answered our questions and whatever you order at the bar, you can bring it with you so don't feel confined to the bar area as you finish your drink! I got the School Rules (mocktail) and bestie got the Mango Colada. They were so good, I finished mine pretty quickly! One of the other exhibits that I enJOYed was the coin flipping one. Whoever thought of all this is amazing to say the least! The face display made out of different sized balls on strings was so cool to see, especially when you walked up to it and to the side of it. We don't have membership, but the older gentleman sitting near the bar informed us that if you pay the $99 fee, you can come as many times as you like and you'll get 20% off any merchandise. He was really informative and we appreciated that he wasn't trying to push it on us. I believe you can also bring a guest for a discounted fee. Some of the exhibits were not as entertaining as others, and I do wish there was more to see, but they do switch it up every couple of months so that would definitely be worth the membership. Don't forget to get your selfies in front of the huge mirror near the bar! I highly recommend coming here if you have out of town guests, or if you've just never been. The bonus is that it's located inside the Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale (same floor as the food court under the escalators), so you can have something to eat or walk around before or after Wonderspaces! It would be a cute date idea, too. I just may buy into the membership because the best part about it is that it does NOT automatically renew. So, if you don't like it, you won't have to worry about your account being charged. Good idea! Check out Wonderspaces Arizona and have so much fun!

    Photos
    Wonderspaces Arizona - Into The Light by Julia Carrillo

    Into The Light by Julia Carrillo

    Wonderspaces Arizona
    Wonderspaces Arizona

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    ASU Herberger College School of Art  Night Gallery - Ally Glowacki gallery

    ASU Herberger College School of Art Night Gallery

    4.7(3 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $

    If you want to see the best in local art right now, you will always have ample parking!…read more Last week, to indulge and share my Tea Infusion iced tea addiction with my friend Blair, we hit up the Market place and I stopped in my tracks-is that....art? Real art in the window? ASU? Night reception on June 26th? We immediately agreed we had to come back. As we dressed up and got some white peach iced tea, it was all true-ASU has been able to secure a space in Tempe Market Place for everyone to enjoy. the space itself is huge with high ceilings and stretches farther back than I thought possible. The gallery director and MFA candidate Michael up front was very sweet and direct, telling us how this dream became a reality and the venue has been overly accomidating. There must be some good people at this malls since music has been a key feature with Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah!, Girl Talk and Rogue Wave have played here for free-and now amazing art?!? Anyway, the exhibit up now is based mostly on sculpture, with David Youngs mostly hollow 15 pound balls stealing the show, most with video cameras you can view at a desk with several alarm clocks ringing in at 12:51am. Damien Johnson had potted cacti cleverly sculpted to spell out Urban Sprawl. Victoria Altepeter had a beautiful assortment of trinkets while Lynette Anderson had a silver tray laser cut with to show silloutte of children with embrodery. I loved Jesse Armtrongs army of avocado mold porcelan creatures with rubber encased grass "arms", resembling jelly fish. Other sculptural pieced involed commentary on dogs and violence, cows and commodication of food, plastic and death, Brittney Spears, and giant bronze pieces. It was simply outstanding. They will be rotating a show every month, and are open Tuesday through Saturday 6pm-9pm. Brave the mall-there is a great reward for you!

    Great place to see up-in-coming artists while they are still students at ASU. No entry fee, but…read moredrop something in the donation jar.

    Photos
    ASU Herberger College School of Art  Night Gallery
    ASU Herberger College School of Art  Night Gallery - Night Gallery exterior

    Night Gallery exterior

    ASU Herberger College School of Art  Night Gallery

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    Tempe Center for the Arts - galleries - Updated May 2026

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