The Sun Valley Museum of Art, was founded in 1971 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 its founding SVMoA has aspired to enrich our community through transformative arts and educational experiences. 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 Wood River Valley’s cultural anchor, bringing families, friends, visitors and residents together for shared arts experiences. We offer exceptional year-round programming in visual arts, music, film, the humanities and Company of Fools professional theatre.
Over the last 50 years, 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 40,000 patrons every year. 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 (1964-1977). Back in the early days 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. For several years, SVMoA flourished at this location as a facility for high-level fine arts residencies. Many of the artists and faculty that worked at SVMoA in its first two decades have gone on to achieve celebrated careers.
Today Sun Valley Museum of Art located in Ketchum 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 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, actors, musicians and playwrights to develop new work.
