Nothing inspires or delights quite like great art — and Tualatin Valley, just south and west of Portland, is packed with opportunities to enjoy live music, get swept away by theatrical performances and marvel at remarkable paintings and sculptures. Here’s how to immerse yourself in culture on your next visit.
Experience Classic Stories Through New Eyes at a Play or Musical
If you’re a fan of musical theater, check out Tigard’s Broadway Rose Theatre Company, which has been producing professional musicals since 1992. The 2026 performance season focuses on the theme of belonging with shows including “In Clay,” which tells the story of an overlooked female ceramicist, and the Tony Award-winning musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” a story that examines the complex emotions of adolescence. Bag & Baggage Productions in Hillsboro lives up to its mission of meaningfully engaging the community with its productions at the Vault Theater. Don’t miss its 2026 performance highlights, including the Greek mythology-based musical “Hadestown: Teen Edition” and “Antikoni,” a bold reimagining of Sophocles’ “Antigone” framed through a Native American perspective.
Break down the fourth wall at Beaverton’s Experience Theatre Project, an immersive theatrical performance that places the audience in the action. Theatergoers are seated amongst the actors in this unique show, meaning in 2026 you can enter the world of Shakespeare’s renowned tragedy “Macbeth” and a comedy-filled Irish memorial with “Flanagan’s Wake.” HART Theatre in Hillsboro showcases the layers of community talent with its family-friendly productions. Since 1994 this all-volunteer company has staged classic plays, contemporary work and family-friendly productions. In 2026 enjoy a dark comedy that examines the complexity of love in “Pros & Cons of Killing Your Husband,” and savor the female friendships of a small-town Southern community in “Steel Magnolias.”
Feel the Rhythm at the Reser
The region’s newest arts center has helped transform downtown Beaverton into a true destination for culture aficionados. The Reser, which opened its doors in March 2022, is a flagship new performing arts center that offers live performances, films, classes and community events that weave creativity into everyday life.
Many of the performance highlights in 2026 are musical, energy-filled productions thanks to its Rhythm & Revolution series, a celebration of hip-hop culture’s style, legacy and revolutionary power across multiple disciplines. Visitors will get the chance to experience the distinctive sound and style of Divinity Roxx, the bassist and musical director for Beyoncé who has become a leading advocate for musicians’ rights. Or witness the contagious energy of Versa-Style Street Dance Company, a Los Angeles-based group that brings street dance to a concert stage in a performance that celebrates West Coast hip-hop. Kids love the musical creations of Mega Ran, a teacher, rapper and father who explores the highs and lows of parenthood in his children’s album. Outside of the hip-hop series, don’t miss the Portland-born cross-genre ensemble Pink Martini.
After the show, make a night of it by booking a stay at the Hyatt House right across the street from the Reser. Enjoying a drink at H Bar and waking up to a complimentary breakfast add an extra level of indulgence.
See Public Art, Shop at Galleries or Take a Class
Tualatin Valley’s newly launched Public Arts Digital Passport makes it easy to find the dozens of murals, sculptures and other treasured pieces that showcase the area’s history, heritage, natural features and hopes for the future. The mobile passport includes several self-guided art walks in Beaverton, Tualatin and Tigard as well as the new Tigard Outdoor Museum, which chronicles the history and artwork that helped shape downtown Tigard.
There are also plenty of galleries where visitors can see or even shop for art. In addition to its live event programming, the Reser features public art like the reflective sculpture Ribbon, inspired by dance and the nearby Beaverton Creek, as well as an on-site art gallery featuring a rotating list of exhibitions. Beaverton’s Grey Raven Gallery features works in a wide variety of media including textiles, glass and printmaking — plus, support for the gallery helps fund the development of art classes for children.
Celebrating ancestral, modern and contemporary art from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, Nordia House in Southwest Portland features many enticing exhibitions. From January to April, experience “The Legacy of Sigmund Aarseth,” a Norwegian painter whose canvas work captures seasonal light in a range of decorative styles. If you go, don’t miss the immense Ole Bolle Troll, which was built by a Danish artist entirely out of recycled materials. Then head inside to Broder Söder to enjoy another Nordic cultural achievement: fika, or coffee and tea plus a little something sweet, to cap off your cultural feast.
