Oregon is rich in culture that is every bit as exciting as any outdoor adventure. Oregon cultural opportunities encompass the entire spectrum from art galleries to live music, festivals to museums and so much more! The Art Scene: Besides the 39 pieces of fine art on public display throughout the City of Bend there are many galleries. On the first Friday that falls each month, an Art Walk that is hosted by the Bend Gallery Association. Of course, Portland, Oregon also has a large choice of art galleries to choose from. Highly recommended is the Blackfish Gallery which first opened in 1979. The gallery, located in the warehouse district known as the Pearl, is owned and operated by artists spanning a wonderful cross-section of the Oregon art community. Film Events: Each October, Bend, Oregon undergoes a transformation to a city of film lovers as well as film makers. The Bend Film Festival has been noted by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the 20 best film festivals in the United States. The event includes international film award winners, parties, discussions of films and film making techniques. Once a working jail, then a set for the movie Goonies, the old Clatsop County Jail is a historic building in Astoria, Oregon and now home to the Oregon Film Museum. Oregon has been the place for many great films, and many refer to Oregon as Hollywood North.The museum is completely inter-active with visitors actually creating their own film as they go through the galleries. Oregon Festivals: Home of the world-famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. The festival runs from mid February until October. Three stages are used for festival and Shakespearean plays that run the gamut from traditional Shakespeare to modern. The festival is a recipient of the coveted Tony Award. A unique and fun-filled festival takes place in Florence, Oregon. This coastal city hosts the Annual Fall Festival, commonly known as the Chowder, Brews and Blues Festival. It is a October weekend replete with great blues music and award-winning chowder from all along the Oregon coast. Portland is a city that loves its festivals. Perhaps the most popular festival for both residents and visitors is The Bite of Oregon. Each year in August, this festival that supports the Special Olympics is held in Portlands Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Five stages present music, cooking competitions and more. Museums: The Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Northwest and the seventh oldest in North America. Bring your walking shoes as the museum has 112,000 square feet devoted to exhibit space. The Portland Art Museum enjoys international recognition for its permanent collection. Just south of Portland on the banks of the Willamette River is The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Visitors to the museum enjoy wandering the permanent exhibit halls, taking in a film at the museums Omni Max theater. Visitors also enjoy a 45 minute tour of the USS Blueback, the last of the non-nuclear class of submarines made for the US Navy. Do not miss a visit to the museums planetarium, laser light shows as well as explanations of the Universe is featured here. In historic Haines, is the Eastern Oregon Museum. which is special as it is on the Oregon Trail. It not only has exhibits about Oregon from its Native American roots through the settlement of Oregon, but also has displays that concern themselves with the challenges facing Oregon today. Music Activity: Oregon resounds with music for everyone's taste. Jazz, blues, opera, rock and roll and symphony orchestras are all part of the great Oregon music scene. Portland is home to Oregon Symphony Orchestra, their venue is the beautifully restored and renamed Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Grants Pass, Oregon offers free live concerts by local talent every Tuesday night, starting at seven pm. It showcases primarily Oregonian home grown talent and is free. Performing Arts: Acclaimed as one of the ten venues for Performing Arts in the country, The Portland Center For The Performing Arts has 900 shows each year. Steely Dan live, live performances of Mary Poppins, and performances of classical music are just a few examples of the offerings that the Portland Center for the Performing Arts makes available. Bend, Oregon is home to the Tower Theater, a performing arts center that features comedy, live classical music, Oregon bands and more! Now fully restored to it Arts Deco glory it is a highlight of the famous Bend performing arts scene.