There are many interesting activities and events in Fresno to attract creative people to the area. To add something to the site, please email .

ARTE AMERICAS
Building on past efforts to establish a community arts center, Arte Américas works toward this ultimate goal by maintaining a center where the visual arts can be exhibited. Our Plaza showcases the performing arts during our Nights in the Plaza music series from May until the first Friday in October. We encourage and balance the presentation of local artists and touring ones. Learn more about Arte Americas.

ART HOP
Held the first Thursday of every month, Art Hop provides local artists an opportunity to showcase their work in locations throughout Fresno. Art Hop is organized by the Fresno Arts Council, whose mission is to foster an arts community, advocate on issues of concern to Valley artists while supporting and encouraging their efforts, and to collaborate with community leaders, businesses, corporations, foundations, and other arts organizations to bring artists and audiences together. Learn more about Art Hop.

BOUNCE
A local house music event the first Friday of every month at the Starline (831 E. Fern Avenue, Fresno), Bounce features local DJs Ezra Osborn and Kristian Moua and a pre-show art installation prior to each show highlighting a different local artist each month. The next event is August 5th with two guest DJ's: Pete Carreon and Bobby Valentine. For more information, please contact Niki Argain.

CALIFORNIA OPERA ASSOCIATION
California Opera’s primary focus is to identify, recruit, train, and shepherd the opera world’s most outstanding singers to International and Grand Opera careers. Artists participate based on performing ability, experience, desire to excel in the field, and potential to positively contribute to the future of the traditional, yet changing face of opera in both local and international venues. California Opera artists are presented in an annual Summer Opera Arts & Education Festival, and in fully-staged opera productions and special events throughout the year. The opera, committed to ensuring access to the arts, delivers programs annually to several thousand children and for various charitable and community causes.

December 3, 1PM to 5PM - Opera By the Lake
Quail Lakes Clubhouse, 4788 N. Quail Lake Drive, Clovis on East Shaw
A special event in appreciation of the sponsors for the opera’s winter programs. Singers, making special waterside appearances, include Internationally Acclaimed Bass Sergey Zadvorny of the Ukraine, along with Pianist Galina Umanskya from Russia. Tenor Zachary Sheely and Mezzo-Soprano Benton Sheely of Lemoore, Soprano Jennifer Myers of Fresno, and Fresno's most talented youth highlight La Boheme, and other Holiday favorites. Fine foods, wine-tasting, and an outstanding art display by local artists complete this delightful afternoon. Sponsorship donations toward this event begin at individual $75 contributions toward winter programs and scholarships to be allotted during the 2005 International Vocal Competition December 17th and 18th in Fresno. This event is generously sponsored, in part by AZCAL Management, Dr. Jill Habib, and Dr. Alan Israel. Suggested Donation : $75.

December 15, 7PM - Amahl and the Night Visitors
Tower Theater
This tender, heartwarming story is one of the most popular of American operas internationally and one of the most frequently performed operas of the 20th century. “Amahl” with its beautiful score and touching English libretto is appealing to all ages and musical background as an inspiring story about faith, love, charity and good deeds working miracles. Sponsored by Fresno Arts Council, the Harry C. Mitchell Trust, and the City of Fresno. General Admission Free; Reserved Seating $10-$25.

December 17, 7PM and December 18, 2:30 PM
California Opera International Vocal Competition Finals
San Joaquin Gardens, 5555 N. Fresno Street
California Opera Association has been auditioning for opera's top voices. With the Third Annual International Vocal Competition ahead, the search has been on for those artists offering all voice types, in three age divisions (Under 17; 18-25; 26 +) that most well represent the future of the traditional, yet changing face of the Opera in both local and international venues. Artists selected from among the preliminary auditions from several countries have booked their flights, arriving to publicly compete as Finalists in Fresno on December 17th and 18th for monetary, recognition awards and lead roles in the 2006 COA Summer Wagnerian Festival and Ring Cycle production. Sponsored by the J. Frederich Schlotthauer Memorial Education Fund. Admission is free. Reserved Seating $10-$25.

For additional information, please call 559-225-6737 (CAL-OPERA) or send an email.

CENTRAL VALLEY BLUES SOCIETY
Got the blues? Check out the Central Valley Blues Society for opportunities to hear local artists or advertise a gig.

FRESNO ART MUSEUM
The Fresno Art Museum collects, preserves, and exhibits to the public tangible objects valuable to art and history. Exhibitions include a wide range of contemporary as well as modern works by local, national and international artists. With additional emphasis on Mexican art from pre-Columbian times to the present, and with the planned bequest of significant collections of pre-Columbian ceramics and French post-impressionist graphics, the Museum is working to serve as both an educational facility and a repository for important collections from the Central Valley.

For more information regarding the Fresno Art Museum, please contact Catherine Staelgraeve at 559-441-4221 ext. 114 or visit www.fresnoartmuseum.org.

FRESNO COUNTY LIBRARY
The Fresno County Library offers books and other free materials and information on almost every topic imaginable, free programs for all ages, 24 hour online reference service, and is open 7 days a week. Special events occur in many of its 35 branches. Learn more about the Fresno County Library.

FRESNO FAMOUS
Fresno Famous is another avenue that young, creative minds can get involved in to talk about, support and learn about the happenings in Fresno. It is a website that focuses on life below Belmont, so if you support downtown, this is your place! Learn more about Fresno Famous.

FRESNO FILMWORKS
Fresno Filmworks is the Valleys Alternative Film Source, showing films not generally seen at the movie mega-plexes. They show foreign, art, and independent films from around the world once a month on the second Friday of each month (December is the only exception). All showings are at the historic Tower Theatre at 5:00 pm and 8:00pm unless otherwise noted. In May, the 2nd Annual Film Festival will launch. This is a three-day event. Learn more about Fresno Filmworks.

FRESNO'S LEADING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
The Fresno Leading Young Professionals (FLYP) is a new organization in Fresno with a mission of creating a strong network among young professionals in the Central Valley. FLYP is fun, exciting, and new! FLYP will have monthly social hours, in addition to social activities to help both locals and newbies to discover Fresno, its various activities, and to meet new people with similar goals. Learn more about the Fresno's Leading Young Professionals or email them at flypinfo@hotmail.com.

FRESNO METROPOLITAN MUSEUM
The Fresno Metropolitan Museum opened its doors to the community on April 4, 1984. Since that time, the Met has educated, enriched and entertained more than 2 million people with its programs in art, history and science. The Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art, History and Science is housed in the historic Fresno Bee Building which was built in 1922. Striking a fine balance between its signature exhibitions and traveling exhibitions, the Met serves an extremely diverse family audience. Recent exhibitions of note include "Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body", "Masterworks from the Albertina," "A T. Rex Named Sue," "Becoming a Nation" and "Georgia O'Keeffe: Visions of the Sublime." The Met is also home to one of the Valley's signature holiday season events, the annual "Christmas at the Met" exhibition. Learn more about the Fresno Metropolitan Museum.

FRESNO POETS' ASSOCIATION
The Fresno Poets’ Association sponsors a monthly reading series which has been directed by the poet Charles Hanzlicek for the past eight years. Readings are held on the first Thursdays of October, November, December, February, March, and April at 7:30 p.m. in the Bonner Auditorium of the Fresno Art Museum. The series has hosted readings by C. K. Williams, Philip Levine, Peter Everwine, T. R. Hummer, Kim Addonizio, David Baker, Belle Waring, Josip Novakovich, Robert Wrigley, Betsy Sholl, Ron Hansen, Dorothy Barresi, William Matthews, Dennis Schmitz, Robin Hemley, Dave Smith, Maggie Anderson, Stanley Plumly, Peter Cooley, Ed Ochester, Sandra Alcosser, and Nancy Willard, among many others. Learn more about the Fresno Poets' Association.

FRESNO YOUTH SYMPHONY
The final performance of the Fresno Youth Symphony, featuring the winners of the Annual Solo Competition playing Tchaikovsky will be on May 21 at 7:30 PM at Warnors Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts (1400 Fulton Avenue, Fresno). For tickets, please call 559-298-9999.

INNER EAR POETRY JAM
The Inner Ear Poetry Jam is a live open mic venue showcasing Central Valley artists in spoken word, art, music, and performance. Located in Downtown Fresno, at Kern Street Coffee Co., the once a month (every third Thursday) jam features music by mix master DJ Jordan, live painting (durring the summer months), a full service coffee shop, and an outdoor atmosphere like no other venue of its kind. Learn more about the Inner Ear Poetry Jam.

LIVE LOCAL JAZZ
Every Friday - 5:30 to 8:30 PM
On-the-Rocks (5030 N. First Street, Fresno)
Lisa Kao & Company (for more information, email Lisa Kao)

Every Sunday - 11 AM to 2 PM
Campagnia Restaurant (1185 E. Champlain Drive, Fresno)
David Aus Duo

Every first Sunday of the month - 6 to 9 PM
Tokyo Gardens (1711 Fulton Avenue, Fresno)
Craig Von Berg and Friends Jazz Jam

THE LOCAL NOISE
The goal of The Local NOISE is to promote and support the local music industry consisting of a community of musicians, merchants, venues, related services, and its audience and valued customers. Learn more about The Local NOISE.

MINDHUB
MindHub is a listserve for creative professionals. The mission of MindHub is to create an (online) community that encourages and supports creative professionals in the Central Valley. The goal is to provide a place where creative professionals in the Fresno and surrounding areas can share information and help each other to find jobs, find employees, announce events, compare notes on their respective trades, and learn from each other in a supportive environment. Learn more about MindHub.

REEL PRIDE
Since its inception in a classroom at CSU Fresno in 1990, Fresno REEL Pride is the sixth oldest - and has grown to become one of the largest - gay and lesbian film festivals in the US. Now located in the historic Tower Theatre, REEL Pride is a celebration of gay and lesbian cinema and is a premiere cultural event in central California. Learn more about REEL Pride.

THE ROGUE PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL
The Rogue is an annual non-juried arts festival held in Fresno's Tower District that celebrates the independent performer and artist. This annual celebration is made up of theatre, music, dance, film, performance art, puppetry, spoken word, storytelling, visual arts and more. Learn more about the Rogue Performance Festival.

TAMEJAVI FESTIVAL
The word Tamejavi (pronounced “tah-meh-jah-vee”) combines the Hmong, Spanish and Mixteco words—Tai Laj Tshav Puam, Mercado and Nunjavi—for a cultural harvest market. And the Festival is just that—a place where the diverse cultures of Fresno meet to share stories, food, dance, music and other forms of art while gaining a greater knowledge and appreciation for each other. The Tamejavi Festival is the highlight event of the Tamejavi Cultural Exchange Project and is anticipated to be an annual event. Learn more about the Tamejavi Cultural Exchange Project.

TOWER HOUSE MUSIC SOCIETY
The Tower House Music Society plays house music every first and third Saturday at Veni Vidi Vici (4757 N. Ila Avenue, Fresno).

WOODWARD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
The newly-formed Woodward Shakespeare Festival aims to bring community together through the common experience of universal and cross-cultural history...and it's free! Upcoming events include:

Live performances at the Rotary Amitheater at Woodward Park:
July 14 through August 6 - Much Ado About Nothing
August 18 through September 10 - Romeo and Juliet

Learn more about the Woodward Shakespeare Festival.