Arts & Culture News: Science Center debuts Dorrance DOME; Heard Museum earns national accolades; Phoenix Zoo orangutan undergoes rare cancer surgery; Music teacher brings piano dream to life for students

August 22, 2025

By Jessica Vaile

Assorted-color Bricks

The Dorrance DOME: previewing Arizona Science Center’s cutting-edge LED dome ABC 15
The Arizona Science Center is set to reopen its Dorrance Planetarium this fall as “The Dorrance DOME!.”


Phoenix Boys Choir has performed for presidents, radio and film. Now they’re in a video game / KJZZ

For the last two years, members of the Phoenix Boys Choir have been working on the soundtrack for the video game Sword of the Sea.


Heard Museum in Phoenix earns two huge accolades – Daily Independent / yourvalley.net

The Heard was named one of the 26 Best Museums in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report and one of the top things to do worldwide by Tripadvisor’s “Traveler’s Choice” Award. 


Phoenix Zoo orangutan has surgery for rare cancer 12 News

Michael, a 38-year-old orangutan at the Phoenix Zoo, has undergone surgery for a rare cancer.


Vibrant murals by local artist welcome travelers to Tucson International Airport KGUN

Travelers flying through Tucson International Airport are now greeted by two massive, colorful murals created by local artist Victor Navarro.


Gila Valley residents given a voice in Arts Commission’s strategic planning / eacourier.com

About 30 Graham County residents met at the Safford City-Graham County Library on Aug. 6 to share their perspectives on the arts and the roles they play in their community.


WATCH: AZ music teacher’s dream to help students one key at a time now a reality / ABC 15
A music teacher at a small Title I charter school on the Pima reservation has made a dream for his students a fully tuned reality thanks to help from the community.


Upcoming events:
Aug. 23-24: 14th annual Hopi Arts & Cultural Festival, Flagstaff
Aug. 24: Arizona Indonesian Festival, Chandler 
Through Aug. 29: Stay Cool Free Summer Concert Series, Chandler
Sept. 5 – 6: Payson Old Time Fiddlers Contest, Payson  
Sept. 12-13: Corazon de Latinos Unidos presents  2025 Fiestas Patrias, Eloy
Sept. 18 – 27: Ballet Under the Stars, Ballet Arizona, Multiple Locations
Sept. 27: Arizona Opera Launches 2025/26 Season With Zorro, Statewide
Through Sept. 28: The World of Anna Sui, Phoenix Art Museum
Through Oct. 27: Poetry Maps • Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
Through December 2025: Art of Achievement: Celebrating 40 Years of Flinn Scholars, Flinn Foundation, Phoenix (by appointment


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