The Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Ketchum has been honored by the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau for its commitment to providing access to and education about the arts in the Wood River Valley.
Selected as Arts Advocate of the Year, the organization will be among those honored by the chamber at its annual Community Awards banquet at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at River Run Lodge near Ketchum.
The Center's mission for excellence in diverse arts programming is being recognized by the chamber because of the overall quality of the exhibitions, concerts, performances and visiting artists that it attracts to Ketchum. Educational programs and exhibits also are offered at its new arts center in Hailey.
Offering classes and lectures for both adults and children, the group provides a community service through arts education and awareness, which supports the Wood River Valley's cultural growth and development. In addition, The Center offers scholarships and work-study opportunities for all classes.
"We are very honored. It is lovely to be recognized, and we are glad to be a part of the chamber," said Sam Gappmayer, the organization's executive director. "Great resort communities have a small component of the arts. We live in a place where a critical level of living makes it such a great place to live and work."
The Center's focus on the visual arts, performing arts, education and humanities provide patrons a multi-faceted approach to topics.
Most recently, The Center collaborated with the Wood River Jewish Community and Global Grassroots to create a four-day event, "Darfur: A Call for Compassion," that allowed the community to voice an opinion about social justice and human rights through photography, film and slide show lectures.
"There is a lot of collaboration and respect for the arts community in (the Wood River Valley)," Gappmayer said. "We work hard to plan ahead, and Kristin Poole, our artistic director, and her committee work with the board and the staff to create our exhibitions. They are really good people."
Founded in 1971 by Glenn and Bill Janss, The Center is a nonprofit educational arts organization. Most of the funding for the group comes through its celebrated annual Wine Auction, grants and generous gifts from supporters.
"When the Jansses founded the Center, they wanted to provide a place for the community to be exposed to the arts and enjoy them," Gappmayer said. "Art is accessible and can be celebrated anywhere."
In a community where there is a great deal of focus on the arts on many levels, The Center is just one entity to the many art organizations that exist here.
"Part of the mix begins with respect of turf and boundaries," Gappmayer said. "We don't do theater because there is such great theater here and because the need is met. We hope to provide multiple points of access and get to work with great people."
Sam Gappmayer is the executive director of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, which was named 2006 Arts Advocate of the Year by the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau.
