Grand Ave Arts: All Access
Free performances, tours, family-friendly activities and much more!
Taking place on Saturday, October 21 from 11am to 4pm, Grand Ave Arts: All Access invites visitors of all ages to experience the world-class arts and cultural institutions along Grand Avenue. From the Central Library to The Music Center and everywhere in between, this free community event includes family-friendly workshops, live performances, docent-led tours, and much more.
Go Metro to All Access: the A and E lines serve the newly opened Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill station; and the B and D lines serve the Civic Center/Grand Park station at Hill and 1st Streets.
Make Your Mark! - The Broad
The Broad is a spectacular contemporary art museum built by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad. The museum is home to the 2,000 works of art in the Broad collection, which is among the most prominent holdings of postwar and contemporary art in the world.
Part of the monthly Family Weekend Workshops series, Make Your Mark! is inspired by artists Andy Warhol and Julie Mehretu. Kids ages 3+ and their families are invited to choose an image from a pre-printed set of photos or take a selfie at the photo booth to create a Warhol-style portrait; and make their own Mehretu masterpiece using maps of LA as their canvas. Be sure to visit The Broad's third-floor galleries to view the artworks of Julie Mehretu and Andy Warhol!
Family Weekend Workshops take place outdoors on the East West Bank Plaza at The Broad. Timed tickets are available from 11am to 4pm. Families who reserve tickets in advance will receive a wristband when they check in on-site at the museum. Workshops are available to families with wristbands on a first-come, first-served basis.
Center Theatre Group
One of the nation’s most influential nonprofit theatre companies, Center Theatre Group (CTG) creates an extraordinary connection between artists and audiences with a 50-plus year tradition of using the theatre to broaden horizons and illuminate new perspectives.
During All Access, CTG’s Education and Community Partnership teaching artists Estela Garcia and Tara Ricasa will offer workshops that connect theatre production elements, puppets and storytelling.
Central Library
Built in 1926, the Richard J. Riordan Central Library is the third largest central library in the U.S. and houses more than ten million items, from popular fiction titles to rare genealogical publications, historic photographs and U.S. patents.
The Central Library will host a Sugar Skull Workshop for children ages 5 and up to discover the significance behind this iconic symbol of Día de los Muertos celebrations. The free workshop will take place in the Thornton Courtyard from 2-3pm. All materials will be provided while supplies last.
The All Access festivities include a Ukulele Class (11am - noon), a tour of LAPL150: Our Story is Yours with co-curator Christina Rice; and docent-led tours that explore the art, architecture and the Maguire Gardens of the landmark Central Library.
The Colburn School
Located adjacent to MOCA, the Colburn School is an internationally renowned performing arts school that provides the highest quality music and dance education to students at all levels of development, from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers.
The Colburn School has a full day of activities planned for All Access, including the ever-popular Instrument Petting Zoo - try an instrument of your choice and get expert advice on getting started in music.
Step Into Dance and get an up-close look at the shoes that make dance possible, including pointe, tap and jazz shoes. Selected shoes will be available to try on along with dance costumes for boys and girls of all ages. Photo op with a dancer in full costume from 1pm to 4pm.
Take your skills to the next level with Colburn’s choir director, Adrian Dunn, who will lead an Open Sing workshop for vocalists of all ages from 11am to 11:50am.
Enjoy Colburn student performances at noon and 2pm, featuring tap ensemble, violinists, cellists and more.
At 1pm, learn what it’s like to conduct an ensemble! Open to all ages and no experience necessary—just bring yourself and Colburn will provide the baton.
From 2:15pm to 2:45pm, children ages 4 to 8 are invited to take a 15-minute Creative Dance class. Guided by a teacher with live percussion accompaniment, children will experiment with movement, improvise, and demonstrate their creativity in a supportive, joyful environment.
Downtown Día de los Muertos (Oct. 21 - Nov. 2, 2023)
Opened in 2012, the 12-acre Gloria Molina Grand Park stretches from The Music Center to City Hall, providing Angelenos with year-round free public programming and green spaces to connect, create and celebrate.
Honoring the people, places and ideas that merit adoration and commemoration, the 12th annual Downtown Día de los Muertos welcomes the community to pay reverence at 19 altars created by professional artists and local community organizations. Visitors can contribute to the annual community altar - the 20th altar - which will honor the victims of gun violence in Monterey Park and those who perished in Maui’s wildfires.
During All Access, guests can decorate their own sugar skulls and create mini-cardboard altars to take home and add a photo of a loved one. Performances will also take place throughout the day in the Park and at The Music Center: Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles at the Fountain Overlook; LA Opera tenor Jonathan Lacayo, who will perform an array of songs celebrating Día de los Muertos; and Grupo Folklórico Huitzilin, which will lead a special procession from Gloria Molina Grand Park to Jerry Moss Plaza and host a dance workshop.
From Backyards to Discotheques - Grand Performances
Founded in 1986, the nonprofit Grand Performances provides free access to the global performing arts to inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through music, dance, poetry, theater and more.
As part of All Access, Grand Performances presents From Backyards to Discotheques: The Evolution of Los Angeles DJ Culture, featuring a panel discussion with DJs and promoters who thrived in the early 80s; live performance by Rodney O and Mellow Man Ace; DJ sets and an 80s-inspired art installation.
LA Opera - Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Created in 1986 by a team of visionaries, LA Opera has become a leader in artistic innovation, while honoring the great historical legacy of opera. Through the powerful art form of opera, LA Opera celebrates the diversity and pioneering spirit of our great city.
At 11:30am and 1pm, LA Opera presents a live recital of some of opera's greatest hits, plus highlights from this season's upcoming productions. Performances will be held inside The Music Center’s elegant Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Learn how an opera production comes together with behind-the-scenes talks on the half-hour from 12:30pm to 3:30pm; and get a sneak peak of The Barber of Seville set.
Get ready for the upcoming production of the magical El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego) with Frida Kahlo-inspired arts & crafts from 11am to 4pm.
LA Phil
Redefining what an orchestra can be, the LA Phil is as vibrant as Los Angeles, one of the world's most open and dynamic cities. Led by Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, this internationally renowned orchestra harnesses the transformative power of live music to build community, foster intellectual and artistic growth, and nurture the creative spirit.
Stock up on LA Phil goodies at the LA Phil Store Sidewalk Sale! Taking place at Jerry Moss Plaza from 1-3pm, Violin 101 will teach visitors about the different parts of the violin and then create your own out of household materials. Performances by YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) Teaching Artists will also take place in the Plaza throughout the afternoon.
Los Angeles Master Chorale
Led by Artistic Director Grant Gershon, the Los Angeles Master Chorale is hailed for its powerful performances, technical precision, and artistic daring. Created by legendary conductor Roger Wagner in 1964, the Chorale is a founding resident company of The Music Center and the choir-in-residence at the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Meet the Los Angeles Master Chorale at Jerry Moss Plaza from 11am to 4pm. Spin the wheel to earn prizes like concert tickets, swag, and sweet treats while checking out performance videos of the Master Chorale in concert at WDCH.
Metro Art
Metro Art presents award-winning visual and performing arts programming that encourages ridership and connects people, sites and neighborhoods throughout L.A. County. From photography installations to onboard posters, art tours and live performances, the multifaceted Metro Art programs add vibrancy and engage communities throughout Los Angeles.
Join Metro Art for an underground tour of the newly unveiled Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill Station, which features large-scale artworks by Ann Hamilton, Pearl C. Hsiung and Mungo Thomson. Stroll the concourse and enjoy works by Samira Yamin. Tours are scheduled for 11am, 1pm and 3pm, and include insights about the artworks, artists and art-making processes.
The Metro Art Bus brings art to the streets, to Metro riders of all ages, as well as passersby, in a unique and unexpected way. Metro Art’s Rider Portrait Series and the current exhibition, “We Are… Portraits of Metro Riders by Local Artists”, is a bright and uplifting visual intervention that honors the personal stories of Metro riders. Look for the Metro Art Bus along Grand Avenue, take a seat and learn about the stories behind more than 40 portraits that cover the exterior and interior of the bus.
MOCA Grand Avenue
Established in 1979, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is the only artist-founded museum in Los Angeles. MOCA is dedicated to collecting and exhibiting contemporary art. MOCA houses one of the most compelling collections of contemporary art in the world, comprising nearly 8,000 objects, and has a diverse history of ground-breaking, historically-significant exhibitions.
Shop featured sale items from the MOCA Store on the plaza and take advantage of the poster sale inside the store. MOCA Education hosts a fun photography workshop for families featuring guest artist Sean MacGillivray. Throughout the day, enjoy music from LA's most exciting DJs, food trucks and be sure to capture memories at the photobooth.
The Music Center
One of the nation's largest performing arts centers and a cultural anchor of Los Angeles, The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of enriching the cultural lives of every resident in L.A. County. The Music Center includes four extraordinary venues (Ahmanson Theatre, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum, Walt Disney Concert Hall) and is the home of four renowned resident companies – LA Phil, LA Opera, Center Theatre Group and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. The Music Center is also recognized for its illustrious dance programming, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center.
Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center is hosting All Access activities throughout the day: workshops on creating a paper sugar skull mask or a tissue paper papel picado banner; Self Help Graphics & Art workshop on crafting traditional paper marigolds to decorate Día de los Muertos altars; and digital displays of artwork from LA-based artists that explore, represent, and honor the spirit and culture of Día de los Muertos.
The Feminist Art Program - REDCAT
The Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) is a multidisciplinary center for the visual and performing arts. Through performances, exhibitions, screenings, and events, REDCAT presents new and innovative work across the arts, both from Los Angeles and around the world.
Join REDCAT for curator-led tours of The Feminist Art Program (1970-1975): Cycles of Collectivity. This new exhibition reflects on the pioneering and influential Feminist Art Program, initially launched by Judy Chicago at Fresno State College and continued at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) with Miriam Schapiro. The exhibition brings together rarely seen archival material, as well as newly created work from CalArts alumni, including ak jenkins, Andrea Bowers, Gala Porras-Kim and Suzanne Lacy.