La Quinta Art Scene: Where to Celebrate Culture and Meet Locals

La Quinta’s rich history in Coachella Valley dates before the 1700s. With such deep roots in the area, the city proudly showcases its heritage through a lively arts and culture scene. Public art, galleries and events work to bring the community together to celebrate local artists. In La Quinta, visitors will find new activities and special items to bring home, all of which represent this thriving resort town. Read on to learn about the La Quinta art scene and how best to experience it.

La Quinta Art Scene and 5 Ways to Experience It

Attend La Quinta Art Festival

Rated one of the top art festivals in the U.S., La Quinta Art Festival welcomes arts and culture lovers to explore works by over 200 artists in multiple mediums. Pair that with scenic views, sunshine, live music and food, and it’s easy to see why the event draws over 25,000 attendees per year. La Quinta Art Festival occurs the first week of March. All ages are welcome, but please leave pets at home.

View Public Art

Those taking a La Quinta vacation will notice public art is everywhere. The city preserves the area’s character through displays and pieces located throughout the city provided by the Art in Public Places Program.

The program has placed over 28 pieces of art in La Quinta to view while enjoying daily activities. Displays start with the Entrance Monuments as guests arrive via Highway 111. From there, other sites to see include desert scenes and history located at area businesses, such as car washes, hardware stores and on streets downtown. In the village, see local art in Old Town, at Civic Center Park, wellness centers, city hall and La Quinta Library, a favorite for all ages. View the full map of public art in La Quinta.

Take a Class and Shop Galleries

In addition to major art attractions, La Quinta houses nearly a dozen art galleries and studios. Among them, visitors should check out Old Town Artisan Studios, a nonprofit organization that allows everyone to create their own masterpieces.

For young children and adolescents, the studio offers clay, ceramic, drawing and glass classes. Meanwhile, adults may try ceramics, sculpture and glass. Another top place to make or buy art is Sm’Art Studio, which offers a variety of pieces made from glass, ceramics, painting, mixed media and more.

Explore La Quinta Museum

One of the must-see attractions showcasing the La Quinta art scene is La Quinta Museum. This two-story museum features a diorama of a Cahuilla Indian village, native animals, photography and more that represent the area’s rich culture and history.

One of the top sites is the 32-foot mural painted by Andre Blanche. After learning about the area, stop by the museum store to pick up souvenirs and handcrafted items made by local artists.

Visit Old Town

To experience La Quinta architecture and the latest fashions, visit Old Town, La Quinta’s main shopping district. Old Town houses dozens of shops, restaurants, salons and places to sit outdoors. In addition to shopping options, Old Town hosts annual events, such as Art on Main Street, which features over 80 artists and original works. Get the scoop on Old Town La Quinta.

Interested in taking a trip? View La Quinta vacation rentals.