UCR ARTS brings the University of California, Riverside’s California Museum of Photography (founded 1973) and the Barbara & Art Culver Center of the Arts (2010) under one roof on downtown Riverside’s Main Street pedestrian mall. It is one of the West Coast’s leading university photography museums, and visitors come for its historical images, contemporary art, and independent film programming (UCR ARTS).
The museum occupies 3824 and 3834 Main Street, away from the main UCR campus (UCR ARTS). Its photography collection includes the Keystone-Mast archive of stereographs, a deep record of everyday life and travel from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The collection also holds historic cameras and viewing devices. Rotating exhibitions pair this archival material with work by contemporary photographers and artists. The Culver Center adds a screening room and event spaces for films, talks, and performances.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Galleries open Thursday and Friday from 12pm to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm (UCR ARTS Calendar). Thursday and Friday afternoons are the quietest times to visit. The museum closes December 24, 2026 through January 1, 2027. Screening and event times vary, so check the films and events pages and book tickets in advance (UCR ARTS Tickets). The historic Mission Inn is a short walk away, and the downtown Riverside Metrolink station puts the museum within car-free reach of Los Angeles.
