St. Louis Arts and Culture Organizations

Mark Mwandoro
Marketing Director

​A community is always dynamic. It is a group of people with a common sense of identity who participate in ongoing shared experiences (Torenberg, 2018). Great communities are aligned along value. They are a great part of our human existence and greatly impact our worldview.  American identity and culture have been enriched by integrating diverse racial and ethnic groups. 

Art, culture, and creativity in communities includes the cultural expressions of ethnic, racial, age, and special interest groups. Art expresses our thoughts, intuition, desires, culture, and beliefs (Titi, 2019). From the days of early man, humans used their simple tools and resources to make art. They had dances for different seasons and occasions and used their creativity to preserve this culture. Studies have shown how we learn, and different parts of the brain process what we see and feel in different ways. Art translates ideas into symbols as people pursue different means of communication where words may not be as effective (Przybylek, 2021). 

Arts and culture interweave into the fabric of a community and create a vibrant group united in diversity. Individuals benefit from the arts in so many ways. Exposure to creative endeavors and different cultures makes people more open-minded to other people’s views and opinions (Rabang, 2018). 

St Louis is home to ‘Fabulous Fox’ Fox Theatre. The theatre hosts Broadway shows, concerts, and speaking events. Other theatres in the area include The Muny, The Repertory Theatre of St Louis, The Black Repertory Theater, and Opera Theatre of St Louis. One of the most notable shows of St. Louis is NBC’s Americas Got Talent Show that ran from March 8 to March 10, 2012. 

The St Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the United Stated, only preceded by the New York Philharmonic. It is housed at Powell Hall in midtown St Louis. The Orchestra has received six prestigious Grammy awards and fifty-six nominations. It is an integral part of St. Louis creative culture.
Due to the restraints imposed by the COVID pandemic, Jazz St. Louis offers a musical experience that can be enjoyed without having to leave the safety of our homes. They bring the Sounds of St. Louis to wherever you are by providing free streaming seasons. One can also join the Facebook watch parties as a cohort every Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is a Roman Catholic Cathedral built in the Byzantine and Romanesque styles. It is one of the city’s major tourist attractions due to the beauty of its mosaic interior. It holds the world’s most extensive mosaic collection created by the German firm of August Wagner, which later became the famed Ravenna Mosaic Company (Lori, 2021).

The St. Louis Art Museum is among the pioneer art museums with paintings, sculptures, cultural objects, and ancient masterpieces from all corners of the world. It boasts of collections from virtually every culture and period.  It is visited by about half a million people annually who marvel at the extensive and diverse pieces of art from typically everywhere in the world. 

The Missouri Historical Society’s See STL Walking Tours hosts walking tours across the city of St. Louis aimed at spreading awareness on the city’s history, architecture, art & culture and more. Other organizations that are making an impact in the arts and culture world of St. Louis are Pulitzer Arts Foundation, and Cbabi Bayoc and Beloved Streets of America who have started a national campaign to clean up streets named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Smaller non-profit St. Louis theater companies that are doing great community and/or youth work include That Uppity Theater Company, HEAL Center for the Arts, 50 Roses Foundation, St. Lou Fringe, COCA, Metro Theater Company, COCA, St. Louis Theatre Community Task Force, Missouri Arts Council, St. Louis Artworks, and Story Stitchers.

St. Louis is a town that has incorporated immigrants from all over the world who bring their traditions and cultures. They are all brought together to form a diverse and stimulating town that blends different cultures.  Art and culture in St. Louis is a collective of vibrant affairs showcased in the various art galleries and theatres. 

Works Cited

Lori. (2021). Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Retrieved from Spiritual Travels: https://www.spiritualtravels.info/spiritual-sites-around-the-world/north-america/st-louis-churches/basilica/

Przybylek, S. (2021, 11 27). Communication & Self-Expression Through Art. Retrieved from Study.com: https://study.com/academy/lesson/communication-self-expression-through-art.html

Rabang, I. (2018, December 7). Art and its impact on society. Retrieved from Bold Business: https://www.boldbusiness.com/society/art-and-its-impact-on-society-art-districts-revitalizing-communities/

Titi, G. (2019). Art as a means of communication. Retrieved from Steemit: https://steemit.com/art/@goodness4titi/art-as-a-means-of-communication-a3aa23584a0cc

Torenberg, E. (2018). What makes a great community? Retrieved from QUORA: https://www.quora.com/What-makes-a-great-community