About Performing Arts

The mission of The Center’s Performing Arts department is to bring world-class music, dance and film to the Wood River Valley, providing exceptional arts and cultural experiences for the community. These performances enhance the life of our community by offering patrons a view outside the valley and introducing them to performers who are nationally and, in some cases, internationally renowned.

We achieve our mission in the following ways:

• Our extensive in-school Professional Artist Residency Program, which serves more than 4,000 students annually, brings performers and musicians to Blaine County schools (public and private) for concerts, presentations, workshops and classes. Artist residencies are designed to enhance students’ creativity and self-expression, expose students to the workings of professional artists and their commitment to their craft, facilitate the sharing of global cultures and artistic styles, and help students learn to be informed and respectful audience members.
• The Winter Concert Series provides adult and student patrons the opportunity to engage with performing artists and experience live music with active reflection and commentary from the performers. These events offer the very best in the world of folk, blues, rock, jazz and contemporary world music.
• The Summer Concert Series gives our community the chance to come together to engage with performing artists and celebrate through music. This series presents both nationally and regionally known musicians.
• The Center’s Film Program introduces non-commercial, unique and content-specific films that further explore the topics being discussed in The Center’s BIG IDEA projects.

The Center’s commitment to Enhancing Arts Education

Every performer in the Winter Performing Arts Series will be performing in local schools as a part of The Center’s ongoing commitment to arts education. The Professional Artist Residencies are supported by Joyce B. Friedman in memory of Norman Friedman, Robin Leavitt and Terry Friedlander, Jane Rosen and Scott Miley—Scott Miley Roofing, Kay, Tenney and Bozo Cardozo, Bex Wilkinson and the Marshall Frankel Foundation, and Neil Zussman and Cathy Whinnery and in part by public funding for the arts through the National Endowment for the Arts, WESTAF, the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Idaho Legislature.