The Vail Valley Foundation brings art and culture to life by providing world-class events and venues to the community.
Spring and autumn are becoming a bigger part of the season at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. In 2022 the venue hosted its first major concert on May 21, its earliest opening date since the venue was first opened to the public in 1987. The 2022 season ended after Labor Day in 2022 due to the solar photovoltaic installation project, but the 2023 season is likely to begin earlier, and run later, than any season in the venue’s history.
The architecture of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater is a main reason why the venue is iconic. Originally designed in the mid-’80s by Jim Morter, the venue has undergone subsequent renovations, all true to the original vision, to become the venue it is today. In 2022, we celebrated the life of Jim Morter and his vision of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater as a communal gathering place for all.
In 2022 the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater installed a new solar photovoltaic array to the venue in partnership with Sunsense Solar and Holy Cross Energy. Periodically the waterproof membrane in the iconic roof must be replaced, and the VVF took advantage of that routine maintenance project to install the new photovoltaic system which will offset about a quarter of the venue’s electrical needs.
We are grateful for our partnership with the Town of Vail and we are honored to work together with numerous partners to help this centerpiece of our community thrive, both culturally and financially. The future is bright for this venue and we hope to see you there in 2023!
The VVF & Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater staff
The ShowDown Town free concert series is one of Eagle’s finest traditions and 2022 was no exception. The event brought families and friends together in Eagle Town Park for six summertime shows (seven were planned, but one was canceled due to weather). The concert series is hosted by the Vail Valley Foundation in partnership with the Town of Eagle, and the title sponsor is Alpine Bank.
More than 2,400 people from 14 different countries tuned in LIVE to watch NOW: Premieres. Also in 2022 the Vail Dance Festival, thanks to generous support from the community, was able to host three dancers from Ukraine who were displaced due to war in their home country.
More than 400 people came together at the Avon Performance Pavilion for the free Dancing in the Park event. More than 439 children 12 and under attended Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater performances for free on the lawn, and 109 kids participated in Celebrate the Beat Pop Hop camp, which culminates with an onstage performance at the Vail Dance Festival.
Artistic Director Damian Woetzel commissioned 13 new works by 15 choreographers that premiered on the NOW: Premieres program of the festival. This brought the Vail Dance Festival to over 100 new dance commissions during his tenure.
Estimated overall festival attendance
Performance tickets sold generating $845,753 in revenue
Performances, including 1 free performance in Avon
Festival and donor events
Economic impact estimated generated to the Town of Vail
The VPAC is celebrating 25 years with special programming, the installation of the Rippeto Family Chandelier (an exquisite Dale Chihuly chandelier), the launch of the $2m sustaining fund, and more.
The VPAC is well-known for its astounding sound, but the acoustics are improving even more with the addition of a $500,000 audio system upgrade. The system was designed by VPAC Technical Director Cheyenne Mendoza and Director of Special Projects & Infrastructure Erik Brown in partnership with L-Acoustics.
The VPAC was able to run a complete STARS (Support The Arts Reaching Students) schedule in 2022. The program allows local students to attend matinee programming at the VPAC free of charge. More than 7,000 free tickets were issued in support of the program, which is made possible by strong donor and community support.
Just over 25 years ago, a group of visionaries had the idea to build a performing arts center in the heart of Beaver Creek. The venue, now known as the Vilar Performing Arts Center, has brought vibrancy, culture, and community to Beaver Creek and made it an epicenter of the performing arts throughout the Rockies.
In 2022-2023, the venue will celebrate 25 years of bringing people together to enjoy the finest in performing arts, bringing joy and togetherness to all, and providing a central gathering place for everyone in the community. We look forward to seeing you soon at one of the most beautiful theaters in the world.
Twenty-five years ago, community leaders and the Beaver Creek Resort Company had the foresight, verve and wisdom to build the VPAC in our small mountain community. Since then we have all benefited from having this incredible venue, in this remarkable location, as a place where all of us can share the wonderful experiences that only live, in-person, performing arts can provide.”
