Frequently Asked Questions

How do I buy tickets?
You may purchase tickets in person at the Box Office, online at  Etix or by calling (480) 350-2822.
The Box office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and on Saturdays and Sundays for special events only. The Box office opens 2 hours prior to an event. 

Where is Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) located?
We are located on 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway,Tempe, AZ 85281 at the southwest end of Tempe Town Lake.

By transit:  The Mill Avenue/Third Street Metro Light Rail stop is less than a mile away. Bus Route 48 serves TCA from the downtown Transit Center, as well as the Light Rail stop. 

Where can I get event information?
TCA Event Calendar can be found on the Home Page of our website and lists upcoming performances, activities and events.

May I rent TCA for a special event?
Yes, TCA is available for rentals for personal or corporate events. TCA offers premier venues for unique theatrical, corporate and social events. From the scenic views of the Lakeside to the lively acoustics of the Theater, TCA tailors its spaces and services to meet the needs of each client.

Can you explain the Tempe Center for the Arts Architecture?
The strikingly magnificent TCA, designed by Tempe-based Architekton and award-winning Barton Myers Associates of Los Angeles, houses a state-of-the-art, 600-seat proscenium theater, a 200-seat studio theater and a 3,500 square-foot gallery. The finely appointed Lakeside overlooks Town Lake, with views of the Papago and Camelback mountains, and is available for meetings, banquets and special events. TCA is located on the southwest end of Tempe Town Lake and resides in a beautifully appointed 17-acre lakeside art park developed by Design Workshop, a Tempe landscape architecture firm. TCA features a roof made of complex geometric folded plates. The roof is highly visible from the surrounding freeways and the man-made Tempe Town Lake, which occupies the natural watercourse of the Salt River, immediately adjacent to the site. It is also visible by many airplanes landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, two miles west of the building.

How long has Tempe Center for the Arts been in operation?
TCA opened on Sept. 9, 2007 as a premiere rental facility and offered many free public program series. In 2016, TCA began producing and presenting a performing arts season of programming. TCA continued its programming efforts with existing partners and residencies. 

How is TCA associated with the City of Tempe?
The City of Tempe offers visual and performing arts through Arts & Cultural Services which is comprised of TCA, Tempe Public Art Program, Arts Engagement, Tempe History Museum, Tempe Galleries, Edna Vihel Activity Center, the Studio Artists Program and Community Arts Events.

What is the Tempe Arts & Culture Division?
The City of Tempe’s General Plan 2040 Public Art and Cultural Amenities goal is to enhance and promote Tempe as a diverse, stimulating cultural and arts community where cultural amenities inspire and enrich people’s lives and experiences through Tempe Arts & Cultural Services.

Tempe Arts & Cultural Division objectives

• Increase and promote community-initiated arts projects, to encourage artists, residents, and neighborhoods to develop and provide activities in community settings throughout Tempe.

• Expand and promote the existing programs to encompass more diverse projects, such as performing arts activities, and arts education in community settings.

• Create an atmosphere in which the arts can flourish and inspire Tempe residents to recognize the arts as essential to the whole life of our community.

• Enrich the lives of the local and extended community by providing life-long engagement in accessible cultural, social and educational experiences.

• Promote and sustain Tempe as a destination for quality services, innovative resources and memorable events for all ages and diverse backgrounds.

• Embrace the arts’ position as an essential piece of the cultural fabric of the community by fostering a broad range of performing and visual arts experiences coupled with engaging social opportunities.

• Help the community achieve a safe, healthy and vibrant quality of life.

• Deliver customer-focused, innovative and financially sustainable services to diverse populations, and

• Create outstanding value for those served through shared vision, superior service and sustainable practices.

What is the Tempe Arts & Culture Commission (TACC)
The Tempe Arts and Culture Commission advises the City Council, through the Community Services Department, in the development of periodic updates to the Arts and Culture Plan and any sub plans thereto and promotes such plans; supports the City’s General Plan goals relating to arts and culture and encourages diverse citizen participation in arts and culture programs and initiatives; and, advises City staff on arts and culture programs, projects, policies, and initiatives.
(City Code, Chapter 2, Article V, Division 3) 

For more information, meetings, membership, or to apply to serve, CLICK HERE.

How may I become a volunteer?
Volunteers are needed to assist as Event Ushers, Ticket Takers, Stage Door Attendants and Gallery Docents.For more info,  please email volunteer@tempecenterforthearts.com.