Irvine is home to numerous enlightening museums and galleries like the Irvine Museum displaying exhibits on local history and agriculture, the Orange County Great Park Gallery showcasing contemporary artists, the outdoor William Gillespie Sculpture Garden, and the OC Heritage Museum covering Orange County history. Art enthusiasts also appreciate the UCI Institute and Museum for California Art exhibiting the Golden State's creations.
The performing arts thrive at the Irvine Barclay Theatre hosting theatre, music and dance. UCI's Claire Trevor School of the Arts presents stellar student and faculty productions. The Irvine Valley College Arts & Culture Program entertains with plays, concerts and art. And the Edwards Lifesciences Center provides a world-class venue for the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.
Irvine libraries like Katie Wheeler, Heritage Park, Charles Martin and the campus University Park library offer extensive book collections, media, internet access and enriching programs to the community.
The city is home to prestigious University of California Irvine, ranked among America’s top public universities. Concordia University Irvine provides private liberal arts education. And Irvine Valley College is routinely ranked one of California’s best community colleges.
Irvine’s dining scene impresses with global flavors from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Italian spots and more. Celebrity chef eateries like Mario Batali’s Osteria Mozza have outposts here. The city’s annual Irvine Global Village Festival celebrates this multiculturalism through food.
With this blend of museums, performing arts, libraries, acclaimed universities and diverse cuisine, Irvine offers tremendous cultural enrichment.
Irvine, CA offers places of worship for diverse faiths. Mariners Church is a massive nondenominational mega-church with 5 locations across the city. Prominent Northwood Community Church serves the area's evangelical Christians. Long-standing St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church was founded back in 1896. Crossline Church provides a hip contemporary worship experience with unique ministries. And the fast-growing Journey Church attracts young families.
The Jewish community has established synagogues like the orthodox Beth Jacob Congregation and reform Temple Bat Yahm with its preschool and active youth groups.
Muslims have built up the Islamic Center of Irvine mosque and school in the city's center, along with the large Noor Islamic Cultural Center serving Orange County.
Buddhist worship centers include the Irvine Buddhist Center offering Thai Theravada teachings and meditation, plus the expansive Ling Yen Mountain Temple for followers of Taiwanese Mahayana Buddhism.
Hindu temples can be found at the Sri Venkateswara complex for South Indian worship and traditions, as well as the ISKCON center for Hare Krishna devotees.
With robust places of worship available for major religions, Irvine proudly embraces its spiritual diversity. The strong multicultural population has established faith communities representing varied beliefs and backgrounds in the city.
