While visitors fill their senses with ocean views and white-sand beaches in Mobile, they can also find cultural experiences in the heart of the Alabama city’s downtown.
The Mobile Ballet has shaped the area’s arts scene for more than 30 years, and each holiday season, the dancers bring “The Nutcracker” to life in a series of dazzling performances. The Mobile Symphony performs long-loved masterpieces as well as modern works in the historical Saenger Theatre—and the tickets are notoriously affordable. Visitors can also see the Mobile Opera, the oldest performing arts organization in Alabama and one of the oldest professional opera companies in the U.S.
The Alabama Contemporary Art Center, located in Cathedral Square in the historical downtown, is committed to the work of living artists. Its mission is to curate exhibitions and programs centered on themes and topics relevant to the Gulf Coast.
The Mobile Museum of Art, which is the largest art museum on the coast from New Orleans to Tampa, has 95,000 square feet of permanent collections consisting of more than 10,000 works of art. Featuring paintings, sculptures, and decorative art from America, Europe, Africa, and Asia in the permanent exhibits, the museum is also home to special exhibitions, art programs, a store, a library, and research center.
And every second Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., the downtown area hosts ArtWalk, a popular event where thousands gather for music, art, food, and culture in local galleries and public spaces.
For more information, contact Visit Mobile’s Patty Kieffer or go to mobile.org.
Top photo: Mobile Ballet
Photo by Renata Pavam
Support for Courier articles provided by:
Alabama Tourism Department
Coral Castle
The National World War II Museum
Texas de Brazil
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
