Arts & Culture
A vibrant arts scene.
Joplin proudly promotes and celebrates our regional culture while giving a voice to our local artists and performers.
Art galleries and monthly art walks attract patrons to our historic Downtown Arts District. Concert series bring an array of performers to Joplin while local organizations provide plenty of opportunities to experience and participate in live theatrical productions.
The
Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex supports our growing arts community with a 450-seat indoor performance hall, an outdoor amphitheater, and the new home for Spiva Center for the Arts. It brings visual and performing artists from around the world to Joplin and showcase our region’s spectacular arts community.
Visual Arts
Joplin’s diverse arts scene features a wide variety of visual and performing arts. From local art galleries to world-renowned performers, the Joplin arts community provides big city spectacles with local charm.
For the imaginative and artistic, Spiva Center for the Arts has three art galleries and fun, educational programming. Spiva provides creative experiences in practically any medium for all ages. Their summer camps, after-school classes, and outreach programs support a wide variety of community members while strengthening Joplin’s artistic community.
Joplin’s First Thursday ArtWalk allows artists to showcase their work each month from March through October. You can find pop-up galleries and work by over 30 local artists as you stroll through our Downtown Arts District during an evening of art, music, and food.
Theatregoers will appreciate performances by the Joplin Little Theatre (JLT). From Broadway sensations to beloved classics, JLT offers a chance for local thespians to hone their craft during five annual shows while giving the community opportunities to enjoy fantastic live productions.
The Midwest Regional Ballet Company and School also produces outstanding live performances of original and classic works while providing instructional classes for all ages, including ballet, tap, hip-hop, Zumba, and even aerial dance.
Music
A deep appreciation for music lives within the community, creating a wide variety of opportunities to experience live, musical performances. From local jazz and blues to Broadway favorites and opera, Joplin’s music scene blends old-fashioned refinement with modern tastes, giving us our own unique sound.
Connect2Culture (C2C) provides excellent opportunities to experience dynamic live performances. To promote the arts and culture in our area, C2C hosts a Curtain’s Up Series which draws dozens of talented acts to Joplin. From Grammy Award-winners to Broadway alums, they bring big city entertainment to local venues with small town prices.
Classical music enthusiasts will enjoy performances hosted by the nonprofit Pro Musica. Their mission to encourage a love of live, classical music has brought world-class musicians to Joplin and its surrounding areas for 40 years.
Prefer the dramatic music of opera? Heartland Opera Theatre (HOT) stages dazzling performances featuring outstanding national and international singers as well as talented local vocalists.
If you're looking for local music, bands line Main Street during Third Thursday, from March to October. See fantastic regional artists perform at Joplin Avenue Coffee Shop and if you're a fan of folk music, you will find the perfect atmosphere at Coda Concert House.