Who We Are

Image
Sun Valley Museum of Art galleries

SVMoA's Mission

To enrich our community through transformative arts and educational experiences

Our Story

The Sun Valley Museum of Art (SVMoA) was founded in 1971, as the Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Humanities, on the belief that a community cannot be built solely from the presence of a beautiful mountain but needs arts and culture to be both vital and sustainable. Since then, SVMoA has evolved into a forward-thinking contemporary art museum that enriches our community through art and education and by providing a place where artists and creative minds can explore our time’s most engaging questions. As the oldest arts organization in the Wood River Valley, and one of only five institutions in Idaho accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, SVMoA serves as the valley’s cultural anchor, bringing families, visitors and residents together for shared arts experiences. We offer exceptional year-round programming in visual arts, music, film, and the humanities.

Over the last 50 years, the Sun Valley Museum of Art has grown from a handful of people presenting classes and events to a professional arts organization that serves more than 20,000 patrons every year. The original campus was established on land deeded by Bill Janss, owner of Sun Valley Company (1964–1977). For several years, SVMoA flourished at this location as a facility for fine arts residencies and many of the artists and faculty that worked at SVMoA in its first two decades have gone on to achieve celebrated careers.

Today, SVMoA is located in Ketchum and has become a cornerstone of the Wood River Valley’s rich and diverse arts scene. Our commitment to education and this community has never wavered and is reflected in programmatic choices that cultivate dialogue around relevant regional and national issues. Recognized as a thought leader in our state and region, our exhibition program is nimble and responsive, considering subjects that enhance our community’s understanding of place or current moment. As a non-collecting contemporary art institution, SVMoA is uniquely suited to invite the most appropriate artists to explore the specifics of a topic or an issue and we regularly offer opportunities to artists and musicians to develop new work.


SVMoA Board & Staff