Central Oregon’s abundance of scenic and recreational amenities is complemented by a rich and diverse cultural climate of theater, music, and art in Bend. Performing arts can be seen throughout the year at the Community Theatre of the Cascades in downtown Bend. The Community Theatre has been putting on professional caliber productions since the early 1980s. In addition, the Central Oregon Community College Magic Circle Theatre is the venue for both college and community programs. In 2004, the community sponsored a renovation of the downtown Tower Theater building so that it can be used for lectures, concerts and other community events.

Bend is home to the Les Schwab Amphitheatre, an independent outdoor amphitheater that was built in the historic Old Mill District in 2001 that hosts riverfront concerts and events throughout the year. The Munch & Music series of evening concerts in the park during the summer is another opportunity for the community to gather together to enjoy free music, fine food, and friends in beautiful surroundings. The community college Central Oregon Symphony, jazz band, and choir perform several times a year for area residents.

The visual arts are represented with public art on street corners, at public buildings, and through exhibits at several public and private galleries in downtown Bend and elsewhere in the community. Several times each year the downtown merchants sponsor “Art Hops” when painters, sculptors, weavers and other artisans demonstrate their craft in the downtown stores. In addition to these amenities, the community supports other cultural events to celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity in Central Oregon.

Just south of the urban area is The High Desert Museum, a nationally renowned, living, participatory museum with a wide variety of indoor and outdoor exhibits on nature, art, science, pioneer life, and Native American life on the high desert plateau. The museum also offers a year-round education program of classes, lecture series, and field excursions.