THEATER ARTS For more than 90 years, the Very Little Theatre in Eugene has showcased beloved musicals, classic plays and world premieres; its Minority Voices Theatre celebrates art and theater produced by marginalized communities within the region. The Oregon Contemporary Theatre hosts edgy and fresh productions, acting classes and the NW10 Festival, which features premieres of 10-minute plays from Pacific Northwest playwrights. Cottage Grove is home to the recently remodeled Cottage Theatre, the intimate, 150-seat playhouse that often presents premieres, musicals and nationally recognized costume design. Check directly with the performing-arts companies for in-person performances. LIVE MUSIC The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts in Eugene produces a rich lineup of live music and theater. Its resident company, Emerald City Jazz Kings, performs classic tunes from the American Songbook, while the “Shedd Classical” series features renowned local and national artists. Just a few blocks away, the Hult Center for the Performing Arts hosts comedians, dance companies, musicals and a wide array of musicians, including those performing in the Eugene Symphony, the Eugene Opera and the Oregon Bach Festival. Exciting touring acts often roll through the historic McDonald Theatre, from tribute bands to experimental performances. In the summers, it’s hard to beat an evening spent at the Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene’s largest outdoor dedicated music venue, or the WOW Hall, a historic space for indoor performances. Any given season at the Richard E. Wildish Community Theater in Springfield features children’s theater, jazz orchestra and classic-film screenings, but it’s a particularly fine spot for those who love their strings, with its regular chambermusic performances. Center Stage The natural beauty of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region, combined with the myriad of local artists and musicians who live here, fuels the local passion for culture. From Eugene and Springfield to Cottage Grove and Florence, you’ll find a thriving art scene with countless theaters, lively music venues, well-curated museums and impressive galleries. Visit page 23 for information about venues offering hearing loops. Florence has a blossoming arts community, and the heart of the town’s scene is found at the Florence Events Center. The venue hosts a live-music series that embraces a range of jazz, pop and country from celebrated musicians. Annual festivals include the folk and bluegrass Winter Music Festival. MUSEUMS The Lane County History Museum’s ever-changing exhibitions connect us to the past of the area. At Eugene’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History, located on the University of Oregon campus, visitors can explore the state’s past through its collections of fossils and examine the world’s oldest-known shoes. The Eugene Science Center takes you to the stars with planetarium events, astronomy exhibits and more science fun. With a vast collection of photographs, artifacts and film, the Springfield History Museum tells the story of the town, from its founding to the cultural milestones along the way. Art enthusiasts will also enjoy the museum’s participation in the Downtown Springfield Second Friday Art Walk, hosting a monthly reception and featuring a rotating exhibit. In Cottage Grove, the Bohemia Gold Mining Museum pays tribute to the area’s mining history, while the Oregon Aviation Historical Society preserves flight-related artifacts, including a number of Oregon home-built aircraft that predate World War II. The Cottage Grove Museum celebrates the town’s previous generations with a collection of historic photos, quilts and rotating special exhibits. On the Coast, the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum fills its halls with photographs, antiques and artifacts. Displays recount the lives of early logging and fishing families settling in the region as well as the Indigenous Siuslaw, who have lived in the area for thousands of years. VISUAL ARTS The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene is home to a broad collection of international and American art, as well as the stunning Prince Lucien Campbell Memorial Courtyard. In addition, the Maude Kerns Art Center hosts rotating exhibits featuring local artists and puts on art classes and workshops for all ages. For those looking for jaw-dropping art outdoors, the 20x21 EUG Mural Project brought world-class murals to the city in anticipation of the World Athletics Championships in 2022, and the beautiful stories-high results remain on display for passersby. Springfield makes its own rich contribution to the street-art scene with more than 20 murals throughout town. Favorites include “The Simpsons” mural as well as a large work honoring prodigal son and author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” Ken Kesey. Springfield’s Emerald Art Center is also a fine spot to browse or purchase Pacific Northwest art. Bohemia Gold Mining Museum Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center | 550 Pearl St, Eugene 24 THIS PAGE: COLIN MORTON. OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COLIN MORTON; MUSEUM OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY; MELANIE GRIFFIN
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