Plan Your Visit

Founded in 1971, Sun Valley Museum of Art (formerly named Sun Valley Center for the Art) is the oldest arts organization in Idaho’s Wood River Valley and the largest in the state of Idaho. Over time, SVMoA has grown from a handful of people presenting classes and events to a professional arts organization that serves more than 40,000 patrons every year (in a valley with a population of 22,000).

1970s

• SVCA Finds a Home: The original campus of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Humanities was established on land deeded by Bill Janss, owner of Sun Valley Company from 1964 to 1977. When the Union Pacific Railroad owned Sun Valley Resort, the 6-acre property along Trail Creek was the site of kennels where the resort’s sled dogs were kept; today the property is home to Sun Valley Community School. The Center offered high-level fine arts residencies. Many of the participating artists and faculty have since gone on to achieve celebrated careers.
• The Arts Flourish & Many Firsts: Faculty established the Wood River Valley’s first art gallery and taught classes in photography, printmaking and ceramics. The Center’s dance and theater workshops offered a broader arts experience than was previously available, and conferences held by the Institute of the American West attracted prominent historians and an audience hungry for knowledge of the Western experience.
• Janss Corporation’s Commitment & A Growing Community: An expanded community began to demand and support The Center’s programs due to The Janss Corporation’s commitment to to developing a year-round resort and attracting second homeowners to the area.

1980s

• Careful Restructuring: A decrease in federal funding for the arts forced The Center to closely examine its programs and finances. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors chose to restructure The Center’s offerings to better align with its financial capabilities and the community’s needs. The Center’s philosophy was also redefined, with programming for the local community taking priority.
• Two Major Steps: The Center redesigned its art workshops to appeal to a broader segment of the community and made a commitment to present the talents of nationally and internationally recognized artists in the visual arts, the performing arts and the humanities.

1990s–2000s

• A Unique Multidisciplinary Approach to Programming: SVCA is nationally recognized for its unique, multidisciplinary BIG IDEA programming. The directors of visual arts, performing arts, education and humanities programs work in tandem with the Artistic Director to develop three or four BIG IDEA projects each year that explore relevant themes from a variety of perspectives. Inviting the whole community to participate in conversation, recent BIG IDEAS include refugees, the brain, Rock and Roll, the meaning of gender in the 21st century, the Great Basin and play and social structures.
• We Are a Museum: In 2006, The Center receives accreditation from the American Association of Museums accredits Sun Valley Center for the Arts in recognition of its adherence to the highest standards of operation and programming. Only 5 percent of America’s arts and cultural institutions share this distinction.

2010s

• Company of Fools Merger: In January 2013, The Center’s Board of Directors approved a merger with Company of Fools, a long-standing and award-winning professional theatre company. As a prominent program within The Center, Company of Fools maintains its name and identity and continues to base its operations at the historic Liberty Theatre on Main Street in Hailey, Idaho.
• Reaffirmation of Museum Status: The American Alliance of Museums reaffirmed The Center’s accreditation in 2016
• A Generous Donation for a Permanent Home: Demi Moore and Bruce Willis donated the historic Liberty Theatre to the Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in 2016. The generous donation formalized the Liberty as the Fools’ theatrical home and provided a permanent anchor for The Center’s programming in Hailey.
• Evaluation of the SVCA Brand: The Sun Valley Center for the Arts began to evaluate its brand and its perception in the community in 2017

2020s

• The Center Becomes Sun Valley Museum of Art: As a result of an extensive brand assessment, thorough evaluations and deep discussions, Sun Valley Center for the Arts launches a new name and identity—Sun Valley Museum of Art (SVMoA)—to strengthen its brand and usher in its next 50 years. The new name enables SVMoA to better serve its local and greater arts community by communicating its museum accreditation and its core purpose to educate and inspire. The name Sun Valley Museum of Art speaks to the caliber of its exhibitions and connects participants to a place for investigating BIG IDEAS and asking questions. SVMoA joins the ranks of great 21st-century museums with its multidisciplinary offerings, world-class performing and visual arts exhibitions and interactive, educational approach. SVMoA’s mission remains the same: to enrich its community through transformative arts and educational experiences.

Early 1900s

• A Century of Performance Art: The original Liberty Theatre was built in the early 1900s, located directly across Main Street from its present location. The owner of the building, Sam Brooks, brought silent films to Hailey in 1917, and one could often find him giving out free candy to the eager children attending the films.

1930s

• The Arts Get an Upgrade: The present-day Liberty Theatre was built in 1938 on the site of an outdoor ice-skating rink. Jack Rutter, a local contractor known for his exceptional craftsmanship, envisioned a modern building to hold community events and screen “talking movies.” Cinder bricks from Burley, Idaho, were used to form the walls of the building, and glazed tiles enhanced the façade. Scaffolding built in the form of a spiral allowed workers to transport the finished materials up to the ceiling in a wheelbarrow.

1970s

• New Ownership: The Liberty’s ownership changed in 1973 and again in 1994.

The 1990s

• Restoration and Revitalization: Demi Moore and Bruce Willis purchased the Liberty Theatre in 2016 and worked to restore the historic space—along with several other buildings in downtown Hailey—to its original glory.
• The Fools Move In: Company of Fools took up residence at the theatre in November 1996 and has operated from there ever since.

The 2010s

• A Generous Donation: Demi Moore and Bruce Willis donated the historic Liberty Theatre to the Company of Fools and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in 2016. The generous donation formalized the Liberty as the Fools’ theatrical home and provided a permanent anchor for The Center’s programming in Hailey.  
• Honoring a Legend: The Center and the Fools re-name the stage at the Liberty Theatre in honor of the late John Glenn, CoF’s beloved Artistic Director in 2017. The dedication creates an enduring testimony to John’s legacy and a reminder of the power and importance of the performing arts to our community.

2000s

• A Historic New Home in Hailey: In 2005, the Sun Valley Museum of Art became the owner of one of the oldest and most historic houses in Hailey, Idaho. The birthplace of the poet Ezra Pound, the house was later the private residence of one of Hailey’s most beloved and busy citizens, Roberta McKercher, until her death in 1996.
• Classroom Transformation: SVMoA immediately set to work to create a freestanding, 1,200-square-foot classroom 2006. Designed by local architects Marc and Jill Corney of Red Canoe Architecture, the classroom is named the Castellano-Wood Family Classroom in honor of Sun Valley Museum of Art benefactors Benjamin Wood and Theresa Castellano-Wood.
• A Place for Learning: Together, the house and classroom allow SVMoA to offer classes, workshops and small lectures and performances in a location convenient to the growing population of southern Blaine County.