Lincoln is Growing, With Arts at the Heart of it.

Opportunities for creative work are expanding in Lincoln, a community poised for continued growth:

Strong growth to almost 300,000 residents

Big Ten university with a prolific arts college

Unique commitment to public art projects

130 miles of biking, running and commuting trails

More parkland per capita than Austin, Portland and all but a handful of U.S. cities

New is now

Lincoln voted for bigger concerts and events, and now the Pinnacle Bank Arena is here.

Around it, the Historic Haymarket has expanded from being a hotspot to buzzing entertainment district. More restaurants. More options. More fun. What remains the same is the short walk from campus.

Learn more about Lincoln

Where does Lincoln rank?

No. 1

Happiest and Healthiest city in Gallup’s annual wellbeing index

No. 6

Best place for business and careers in a Forbes ranking

No. 6

Top small metro areas in the American Institute for Economic Research's College Destinations Index

No. 6

Favorite gameday spot in USA Today's Travel's readers' choice ranking

People view art at a gallery

More galleries and ways to play

As the construction cranes promised new venues, existing spaces took new creative turns.

  • First Friday Artwalks have put a date on new exhibitions and art connections
  • A UNL alumna with a local arts supply shop helped create the Tugboat Gallery, a downtown space for emerging artists
  • The reopening of Pinewood Bowl amphitheatre in Pioneers Park for concerts has already attracted bands like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers
  • Summer means new sounds downtown at free-concert Fridays through Hear Lincoln (and Tuesdays for Jazz in June)