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What to expect
Every week, Essential Arts covers the depth and breadth of Southern California’s complex cultural sphere: the latest biennial, the avant-garde building design, a groundbreaking opera and the Pulitzer Prize-winning play — along with all the bits of related news emerging from the region and beyond.
This begins with the voices of our award-winning critics, who bring a depth of reporting and experience to the region’s cultural scene: Christopher Knight’s profound knowledge of art in Los Angeles; Mark Swed’s longtime immersion in classical music; Charles McNulty’s deep understanding of theater, and his ability to identify the idea that stays with you long after the performance is over.
But it also includes our reporting: investigations, profiles, interviews, photo essays and explanatory pieces produced by a team of longtime journalists who know what’s happening in the creative corners of L.A. — and beyond.
Latest Essential Arts newsletters
How Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ could affect artists, galleries and collectors; plus Latino Theater Co.’s 40th season launches, choreographer Will Rawls at REDCAT and more.
A free performance of a new musical about Vitka Kempner, the Linda Lindas, Elevator Repair Service and more arts headlines and happenings.
The Kennedy Center laid off the bulk of its social impact team, which sought to make art more accessible to those not in the habit of attending performing arts shows.
Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra, Yorgos Lanthimos’ photography exhibition, Nicholas Pilapil’s new play and more arts headlines and happenings.
Hungarian pianist András Schiff and German violinist Christian Tetzlaff cancel upcoming U.S. performances in reaction to Trump-era policies.
A rare West Coast showcase of the work of María Magdalena Campos-Pons, a Desert X dispatch and more arts headlines and happenings.
Trump administration to fire federal art caretakers, leaving public art — including important California pieces — vulnerable.
American Contemporary Ballet favorites, a new solo “Hamlet” and more arts and culture headlines and happenings.
The fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moises Kaufman’s “Here There Are Blueberries” and the Vienna Philharmonic: L.A. Arts and Culture this week.
Central Library’s after-hours art party, Corita Art Center’s opening day, the L.A. return of Victor Quijada’s Rubberband and more arts headlines and happenings.
