Las Vegas is the Entertainment Capital of the World—and that extends to its arts scene. Here, artists and passionate entrepreneurs work with the public every day to create vibrant local pockets of creativity and engagement that personify Las Vegas culture. With world-class performance venues, museums, and cultural districts, Las Vegas continues to cultivate the arts and community.
You can also experience the Las Vegas cultural arts scene off the famous Las Vegas Strip. It’s one of the many benefits of living in Las Vegas.
Table of contents: Las Vegas Culture and Arts
Streets of art
The Las Vegas Arts District spans 18 blocks just south of downtown Las Vegas and is filled to the brim with funky boutiques, art galleries, unique living spaces, fresh dining options, and more. The New York Times called the Las Vegas Arts District “The Least Vegas Neighborhood in Vegas.”
The Las Vegas Arts District features a diverse range of art, including contemporary paintings, street murals, sculptures, photography, and mixed-media installations. You’ll also find handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, and experimental works from local and international artists, blending traditional techniques with modern, edgy styles.
The Arts Factory in Downtown Las Vegas is a creative hub in the Arts District, housing galleries, studios, and performance spaces that showcase local and international artists.
The downtown cultural hub
Downtown’s Symphony Park is home to The Smith Center for the Arts, a visually stunning performing arts center funded by a private-public partnership with the help of local donors and the city of Las Vegas.
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas boasts an elegant Art Deco design inspired by the Hoover Dam, featuring limestone exteriors, intricate detailing, and a striking 17-story carillon tower. Its expansive campus includes multiple performance spaces, offering a world-class setting for Broadway shows, concerts, and cultural events.
“Today, The Smith Center is ranked as one of the top 10 theaters in the world by Pollstar Magazine, a respected trade publication for the concert industry. With its three performance spaces — Reynolds Hall, Myron’s Cabaret Jazz, and Troesh Studio Theater — The Smith Center offers one the most acoustically advanced and versatile performing arts campuses in the world,” Myron Martin, President and CEO of the Smith Center, said in a 2019 interview.
“The Smith Center offers one the most acoustically advanced and versatile performing arts campuses in the world.”
Myron Martin, President and CEO of the Smith Center
Beyond Broadway productions, The Smith Center hosts a variety of performances, including concerts by the Las Vegas Philharmonic and dance productions by the Nevada Ballet Theatre. The venue also features jazz ensembles, classical recitals, and family-oriented shows, offering a diverse cultural experience for the Las Vegas community.
The Las Vegas theater scene
Las Vegas has a thriving theater scene beyond the Strip, with a strong focus on arts and culture.
The Smith Center includes a robust and diverse list of Broadway shows in the Broadway Las Vegas Series lineup. Plus, tours are available to see behind the scenes of this artistic masterpiece. However, the Smith Center isn’t the only show in town.
The Las Vegas Little Theatre, the city’s longest-running community theater, showcases local talent and has been doing so since 1978. It features a mix of classic plays, contemporary works, and original productions, offering an intimate and engaging experience for theater lovers. With a dedicated, volunteer-driven approach, it remains a vital part of the Las Vegas arts and culture scene.
Super Summer Theatre brings outdoor performances to Spring Mountain Ranch, offering Broadway-style productions under the stars. Running from May through September, the series features classic musicals and popular plays in a scenic desert setting. The unique venue blends perfectly with the Las Vegas outdoor lifestyle, where The Strip feels a million miles away.
State-of-the-art on and off The Strip
Did you know the Strip boasts a massive collection of public fine art? You do now! There’s the Fire Art Collection at ARIA (browse for free!), the rotating Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art and The Park outside Park MGM, featuring the famous and breathtaking 40-ft tall Bliss Dance sculpture as its centerpiece.
Over at UNLV, the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art features contemporary art through exhibitions that highlight regional, national, and international artists. The strong focus centers on diversity and social issues.
The Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery at UNLV showcases works from emerging and established artists, including student and faculty exhibitions.
Plans underway would bring the Las Vegas Museum of Art to Symphony Park in 2028. The space includes three exhibit halls through 90,000 square feet. Then, add in a gift shop, theater, and cafe. Architect Francis Kéré is doing the design, and Patrick Brennan with Red Ridge Development will handle construction. “Symphony Park is for the locals and, yes, we’ll always welcome the tourists. But this is something that the city is seeing as maturity,” Brennan added.
A collection of unique museums
Las Vegas culture isn’t just about casinos and nightlife—it’s also home to some of the most interesting and unconventional museums in the country. Whether you’re into history, science, or vintage nostalgia, there’s something for everyone.
The Neon Museum
If you’ve ever wondered what happens to old Vegas signs when casinos shut down, The Neon Museum is your answer. This outdoor museum, known as the Neon Boneyard, is filled with massive, historic signs from legendary hotels and businesses, offering a visual history of the city’s evolution.
At night, the restored signs glow again, and immersive tours bring their stories to life. It’s one of the most iconic cultural experiences in town.
The Mob Museum
Step into the world of crime and law enforcement at The Mob Museum, officially called the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. Located in a former courthouse, this museum goes all in on the dramatic history of the mob in Las Vegas and beyond.
You can explore real FBI evidence, sit in an old courtroom, and even visit a hidden Prohibition-era speakeasy. The interactive crime lab and firearm training simulator take the experience to another level.
Atomic Museum
Las Vegas played a huge role in the atomic age, and this Smithsonian-affiliated museum dives into the history of nuclear testing in the Nevada desert. The Atomic Museum exhibits showcase everything from Cold War propaganda to the science behind nuclear explosions. The highlight? A simulated atomic test that lets you feel what it was like when real detonations happened just miles away.
It’s a mind-blowing look at an era that shaped the world.
Take the trip a step further by planning a trip to the Nevada National Security Site, where testing happened.
Pinball Hall of Fame
This isn’t your average museum—it’s a massive, playable collection of over 700 vintage pinball and arcade machines.
Located near the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, the Pinball Hall of Fame is a dream for retro gaming fans, with machines dating from the 1950s to today. Unlike most museums, everything here is interactive, so bring some quarters and play your way through arcade history.
The best part? It’s nonprofit, so your game time goes to a good cause.
Springs Preserve
Despite the desert landscape, Las Vegas means “the meadows’ in Spanish. That name came from the oasis found in the location that is now Springs Preserve. That’s why they call this museum the “Birthplace of Las Vegas.”
Spread across 180 acres, it features nearly four miles of walking trails, botanical gardens, and interactive exhibits about desert life and sustainability. The Origen Museum inside has hands-on science exhibits and fascinating artifacts from Nevada’s past. Whether you’re into hiking, history, or just looking for a scenic escape, this is a hidden gem.
Pair this stop with a trip to the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park downtown to see how Las Vegas’ early settlers lived.
Discovery Children’s Museum
If you’re visiting with kids, the Discovery Children’s Museum is a must. Located near The Smith Center, this three-story space includes interactive exhibits that encourage learning through play. Kids can climb The Summit, a towering play structure, role-play in a make-believe city, and get hands-on with engineering, water experiments, and science displays. It’s fun, educational, and a great way to burn off some energy.
Hoover Dam Museum
For those fascinated by engineering marvels, the Hoover Dam Museum offers a closer look at the human side of this massive project. Located inside the Boulder Dam Hotel, this small but compelling museum tells the story of the workers who built the dam, featuring personal stories, historical photographs, and artifacts from the 1930s.
It’s a great way to appreciate the scale and impact of one of America’s greatest engineering feats. After visiting the museum, head to the dam, where you can take a tour and walk through the exhibit hall.
Arte Museum in Las Vegas
Arte Museum in Las Vegas immerses visitors digital art experience that blends cutting-edge technology with nature-inspired themes. Created by Korea’s d’strict, it features massive projections, interactive installations, and hyper-realistic visuals that transform ordinary spaces into mesmerizing dreamscapes.
Themed around Eternal Nature, the exhibit showcases vibrant oceans, waterfalls, and jungles, enhanced by dynamic lighting and ambient soundscapes. Unlike traditional museums, ARTE fully surrounds visitors in moving art, creating an otherworldly sensory experience. Located on the Strip at The Venetian, it’s a must-visit for anyone looking for a visually stunning escape beyond the typical Vegas entertainment scene.
The artsy side of Las Vegas
When you live in Las Vegas, you get to experience the year-round artistic flair that has made our community a cultural powerhouse beyond the Entertainment Capital of the World attractions. If you want to know more about living here and moving your business to this impressive community, contact the LVGEA today. The Las Vegas culture awaits your return.
