Downtown Cultural District

The Cultural District in Downtown Pittsburgh has supplied world-class arts and entertainment to the city of Pittsburgh for nearly a century. Lovers of performing arts, music, visual arts and movies will find plenty to enjoy in this 14-block area.

• Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

  412.471.6070 or 412.456.6666 (tickets)
  803 Liberty Ave.
  http://www.pgharts.org/

  The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of Pittsburgh's downtown Cultural District, and sells tickets to many of the performing arts events happening downtown. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust was formed in 1984 as both an arts agency and a real estate and economic development catalyst. The Trust's first project was the restoration of the former Stanley Theater into the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. This $43 million project was completed in 1987, and at that time the Trust's Board of Trustees began to focus on the creation of a downtown Cultural District Development Plan. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's plan for development was a holistic approach that has included streetscaping programs, facade restorations, new cultural facilities and public open spaces and art projects. The end result encompasses a complete transformation of Pittsburgh's Downtown; from a "red light" district with only two cultural facilities—Heinz Hall and the Convention Center—to a vibrant animated area with over fourteen cultural facilities, public parks and plazas, and new and proposed commercial development.

  Besides the Benedum Center, the Cultural Trust also owns and operates the Byham Theater and, along with the Pittsburgh CLO, the Cabaret at Theater Square, featuring intimate cabaret performances and late-night entertainment.

• Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

  Performing at Heinz Hall
  412.392.4900
  600 Penn Ave.
  http://www.pittsburghsymphony.org/

  For more than 100 years, the world-renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has been an essential part of Pittsburgh's cultural landscape. The PSO prides itself in artistic excellence, a rich history of the world's finest conductors and musicians and a strong commitment to the Pittsburgh region. This tradition is furthered when Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck assumed the position of Music Director in the fall of 2008.

• Pittsburgh CLO

  Performing at Benedum Center and Byham Theater
  412.281.3973
  719 Liberty Ave.
  http://www.pittsburghclo.org/

  Vibrant productions, innovative educational programs and bold new works define Pittsburgh CLO as a leader in the musical theater industry for more than half a century.

  Pittsburgh CLO's critically acclaimed productions have welcomed some of Broadway’s brightest stars and launched the careers of numerous talented performers. Dedicated to the development of new works and showcase of new talent, recent Pittsburgh CLO productions include the National Tour of Dr. Dolittle, Barry Manilow’s Copacabana, Lunch, Casper the Musical starring Chita Rivera and six musicals for the Gallery of Heroes school series, including The Incredibly Innovative Innovators of Pittsburgh, which entertained students in Spring 2008.

• Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

  Performing at Benedum Center
  412.281.0360
  2900 Liberty Ave.
  http://www.pbt.org/

  The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre was founded in 1969 and throughout its history has benefited from a large and eclectic group of dance luminaries who appeared as guest dancers, teachers and choreographers. PBT has also traveled extensively and features a unique program for high school students. Their annual performance of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker continues to dazzle audiences each holiday season.

• Pittsburgh Public Theater

  Performing at the O’Reilly Theater
  412.316.1600
  621 Penn Ave.
  http://www.ppt.org/

  Contemporary theater in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. With a unique three-quarter thrust stage—the audience surrounds the actors on three sides—The Public offers intimate, engaging, professional theater. Every season they produce a series of diverse theatrical productions that may encompass classics of the American theater, masterworks from the international repertoire, world premieres, contemporary plays and musicals of exceptional merit. This diversity is enhanced through collaboration with famed directors, extraordinary actors and stunning production values, giving you a world class theater experience.

• Pittsburgh Opera

  Performing at the Benedum Center
  412.281.0912
  2425 Liberty Ave.
  http://www.pittsburghopera.org/

  Founded in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is the eighth-oldest opera company in the U.S.

• August Wilson Center for African American Culture

  412.258.2700
  http://www.augustwilsoncenter.org/

  Opening May 2009. Named after native Pittsburgh literary genius, the August Wilson Center is a stunning addition to the growing Cultural District. More than a museum, the new center will reflect all aspects of African-American culture. The 80,000-square-foot facility includes galleries, classrooms, a 500-seat theater and many multi-purpose spaces.

• Wood Street Galleries

  412.471.5605
  601 Wood St.
  www.woodstreetgalleries.org/

  Located above the T-station on Wood Street and Sixth Avenue, Wood Street Galleries hosts visual artists from all over the world.

• SPACE

  412.325.7723
  812 Liberty Ave.
  www.spacepittsburgh.org/

  The mission of SPACE is to realize a working example of an integrated and open art ecosystem in Pittsburgh. SPACE values the creation of new works in multi-disciplines, presentation of artwork to the broadest possible audience, inclusion of established and contemporary technologies and the promotion of local artists outside of the region.