5 Leading Arts Organizations In Nebraska

5 Establishments in Nebraska Dedicated to the Arts

Name	Location	Description
Opera Omaha	Omaha	The only professional opera company in Nebraska, with numerous educational and community outreach programs
RESPECT	Omaha	Works to end bullying and abuse through theater presentations, discussions, and workshops on a variety of topics for students and adults
LUX Center for the Arts	Lincoln	Offers monthly exhibitions, classes for all ages, artist residencies, and the Art Van, which partners with schools, youth service agencies, senior & daycare centers, and businesses across the state
Omaha Symphony	Omaha	Bringing live orchestral music performances to the community for more than 90 years
The Rose Theater	Omaha	Perfect for kids, this theater company allows young people not only to enjoy watching shows, but also to participate in dynamic performances and explore their passion for acting, singing, and dance

Mayor Jean Stothert Proclaims November 1st, 2019 as Opera Omaha Day

Notable Nebraskan Artists

Mural Painting at Lux Center for the Arts

In Depth

Art is a vital part of culture that should be accessible to everyone. Luckily for residents of Nebraska, they don't need to go far to experience moving works of art in any form. Here, in no particular order, are five leading arts organizations in the Cornhusker State.

Up first, in the #1 spot is Opera Omaha, the only professional opera company in Nebraska. This organization began as a volunteer association in 1958, and with tremendous community support, it became a fully professional company by 1970. Opera Omaha produces an internationally renowned season of main stage productions, presented at the historic Orpheum Theater, and smaller productions and musical events throughout the community. The Holland Community Opera Fellowship is the centerpiece of its strategic vision for the future, bringing community-minded, entrepreneurial artists to live and work in Omaha.

This group is also highly regarded for its extensive community outreach, making opera accessible to everyone. These programs include free dress rehearsals for students and chaperones, an annual poetry and music project, and a yearly celebration of National Opera Week. There are many opportunities to get involved with this group, regardless of your financial situation, such as tweeting about performances, appearing on-stage as a non-speaking role, and auditioning to perform with the group's chorus. Information about these opportunities, as well as donating and volunteering, can be found on its website.

These programs include free dress rehearsals for students and chaperones, an annual poetry and music project, and a yearly celebration of National Opera Week.

#2 on our list is Respect, an educational theatre company that helps give people of all ages the skills they need to prevent and stop bullying, and other forms of abuse in relationships. It is the only organization of its kind in Nebraska, and it has provided programs to over a half-million participants since its inception. Participants have the opportunity to develop empathy for others, to understand that they are not alone in experiencing these problems, and to explore different behavioral strategies and resources that they can use for support.

This nonprofit uses theatre as an effective tool to empower students to deal with bullying and abusive relationships. Its programs consist of educational presentations, paired with discussions led by community professionals and actor-educators. Some groups are able to try out their own solutions through role-playing, or to submit questions anonymously for discussion. You can donate online, or find information about booking Respect for your school or organization on its website.

In the #3 spot is the Lux Center for the Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska. This community of art lovers is dedicated to transforming lives through art. It offers year-round classes for all ages in ceramics, painting, drawing, glass, mixed media, and metals/jewelry. Classes are taught by participants in the artist-in-residence program, which brings emerging artists and teachers to Lincoln to teach, in exchange for studio space, materials, and a solo exhibition.

Classes are taught by participants in the artist-in-residence program, which brings emerging artists and teachers to Lincoln to teach, in exchange for studio space, materials, and a solo exhibition.

This organization provides a mobile art program that was developed to provide classes and workshops to groups such as low-income school children, the elderly and incarcerated youth. The center is home to an impressive collection of more than four hundred prints, allowing the community to see works by some of the most significant artists of the early and mid-twentieth century. It also features new exhibitions each month from local, regional and national artists. To support the Lux Center for the Arts, you can volunteer or become a member.

At #4, we have the Omaha Symphony, an essential resource for orchestral performances, musical entertainment, and education. Since 1921, it has performed a wide array of nationally-recognized education and community engagement programs that annually reach many thousands of people throughout the region. The orchestra's musicians are all paid professionals who are highly trained, and it primarily performs in the beautiful Holland Performing Arts Center.

The group's virtuosity and versatility are showcased in six distinct concert series: MasterWorks, Symphony Pops, Symphony Rocks, Family, Symphony Joslyn, and the Movie Music series. The musicians tour communities across Nebraska, bringing the power and beauty of live orchestral music to unique audiences across the state. It also presents an innovative and nationally recognized music education curriculum designed for students of all ages. Those who would like to support the Omaha Symphony can donate online.

The musicians tour communities across Nebraska, bringing the power and beauty of live orchestral music to unique audiences across the state.

And finally in the #5 spot is The Rose Theater. Founded in 1948, this organization is committed to enriching the lives of children and families through live theater and arts education. The theater is accessible to all children, and no child is ever turned away for economic reasons. It provides child-friendly amenities such as booster seats and a "restless room" where rambunctious youngsters can watch a live video feed of the performance without disrupting those around them.

This organization offers classes that encourage creativity and imagination, while enriching the understanding and enjoyment of theater. It also produces several teens-only shows each season, where teen participants are given opportunities to act, direct, write, design and stage manage. The theater's community outreach program uses creativity, writing, storytelling, and acting to help young people talk about different topics and bring about change in the community. To get involved, you can donate, volunteer, or join The Rose Theater Guild.