Lecture FAQs

General Information

Seats for lectures are often not assigned. In the event that seats are assigned, the sooner you purchase, the better your seats. Some lectures seating options with a premium seating area as well as a regular priced seating area. Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged.

Please remember that The Center’s events are shared experiences. We ask that you be respectful to those seated near you and to the performers, staff and volunteers. Photography, smoking, talking during performances, and the use of cell phones are not permitted. Patrons who are disruptive, disrespectful or inebriated before, during or after a performance, will be asked to leave the venue and will not receive a refund.

What time should I arrive?
Doors open 30 minutes before start time. At some of our venues, parking is a short walk from the venue. Please plan accordingly!

May I take pictures, video or record sound?
No video, photography or recording of any kind is permitted at The Center’s lectures. Professional photographers must contact The Center in advance to receive permission to take photos at our lectures. Permission may be granted, but photographers must follow The Center’s guidelines or risk being asked to leave and/or lose the right to photograph future events.

Where is the venue? And where do I park?
Please be sure to check the lecture location before heading out, and contact us if you have any questions. We use a variety of locations around the valley for our indoor concerts. The Church of the Big Wood has limited parking, although parking is available in the YMCA parking lot across the street. NexStage Theater has on-street parking nearby, but please do not park in the Village Market parking lot. Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater is located in Hailey and has a parking lot in front of the Community Campus building. If this lot is full, there may be overflow parking available in the high school lots to the north of the Community Campus.

Does my child need a ticket?
Yes. We do not allow babes in arms for lecture events, and children who do attend must have their own purchased seat. At most lectures, we offer specially priced tickets for students. Please contact The Center at 208.726.9491 for more information about lectures appropriate for kids.

Do I need a ticket for a FREE lecture at The Center Museum space?
Yes. Seating in this venue is limited. To ensure that you have a seat at this event please call our box office or reserve your FREE ticket online. This helps us to be able to better accommodate the audience that attends these FREE lectures.

Will there be a Q&A?
Our lecture events are directly followed by a time for the audience to ask questions of the speaker. Our Q&A session generally lasts for about 15 minutes following the end of the formal lecture. Please follow directions from the speaker and staff. At times we ask that when called on you wait for a mic to be given to you to amplify the sound. At times we ask that you make your way to a stationary mic to ask your question or write your question on a piece of paper and pass it to waiting staff. Please keep your question direct and brief so that we can accommodate as many questions in our time as possible.

Is there an opportunity to get my book signed?
At many of our events that feature an author, a book signing will follow the event. The signing usually takes place in the lobby or on the stage where the event takes place. Books will be available for purchase through a local book seller. You may also bring a copy that you already own. Please follow signs and directions from staff about lines and photography.

ADA Accessibility
Our venues are ADA accessible, but due to the age of certain venues, some have special concerns. Please contact us at 208.726.9491 to let us know how we can best accommodate you.

Refunds or Exchanges
Lecture tickets are not exchangeable or refundable. If you cannot use your tickets, you may give them to a friend or return them to The Center before the show for a tax-deductible contribution equal to the price you paid for the tickets (excluding ticketing fees, which are not tax deductible).

Picking Up Tickets / Print at Home
If you’ve ordered tickets online or through our box office, they will be held at will call at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. You may pick up your tickets during regular business hours (Mon–Fri, 9–5, and Saturdays during February, March, July and August, 11–5). If you are unable to pick up your tickets in advance, they’ll be at will call at the venue on the day of the event. For some of our events, “Print at Home” is an option. If you print your tickets at home via the “Barcoded ETicket,” you do not need to pick them up at will call.

Canceled or Postponed Shows
For reasons beyond our control (e.g., weather, artist scheduling, illness), shows may be canceled or postponed. If this occurs, we will contact ticket holders via email and post announcements on our website and Facebook page to alert patrons of any changes and what The Center will do in this particular situation. If you have any questions, please contact us at 208-726-9491 or .