There is much to savor here, for Jackson Hole opens up in ways at once surprising, serendipitous and invigorating. It’s a grand place to call home.
Center for the Arts
The 41,000 square foot Arts & Education Pavilion, 500-seat theatre, Music Center, and theaters for rehearsal space create a dynamic and exhilarating opportunity to experience the performing arts. Dancers Workshop, the Art Association, Jackson Hole Chorale, Off Square Theater Company, and the Center of Wonder are just a few of the long-standing arts companies ensconced in this remarkable building. The Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians recently had the audience on their feet, while Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers were wryly superb. Béla Fleck and the Flecktones sold out in days, and the celebrated New York City Ballet capped off the last season. And for those who want to participate in dance there are ongoing classes in modern dance, swing dancing, Salsa, Zumba, and more. Music lovers will be treated to year-round performances by an international array of top singers and bands.
National Museum of Wildlife Art
The museum is unique among American art museums, distinguished by its mission and location. With collections of nearly 4,000 works of art—a world-class array of wildlife inspired art with historic and contemporary photos, textiles, prints, paintings and sculptures—the museum strives to enrich and inspire public appreciation of fine art and humanity’s relationship with nature. Numerous special events, plus the Kids Discovery Center, offer new ways to explore nature for the entire family. Situated on a hillside just outside the town of Jackson, the museum overlooks the 20,000-acre National Elk Refuge and is en route to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
Grand Teton Music Festival
Celebrating their 50th year, the Grand Teton Music Festival has inspired countless audiences with unforgettable concerts by the world’s finest orchestra players. Led by music director Donald Runnicles, the summer lineup includes everything from pop favorites to the best of the old masters: Liszt, Mozart, Mahler, Bach and Beethoven.
Jackson Hole Wine Auction
The Jackson Hole Wine Auction is one of the preeminent charity wine auctions in the country. In the eighteen years since its inception, the annual event has raised millions of dollars for the continued enrichment of arts and culture in Jackson Hole through its beneficiary organization, the Grand Teton Music Festival. Don’t miss out on the next event: June 26-28, 2014. Visit the website for details on how to participate.
Art Galleries
There are between 30 and 40 galleries in Jackson featuring the best of Western art, and more recently newer galleries with a broader focus. The definition of art in the town and the surrounding valley of Jackson Hole has expanded with a popular international film festival, dedicated state-of-the-art studios, and organizations such as the Art Association.
Conservation: Jackson Hole Land Trust and Nature Conservancy
With 97 percent of Jackson Hole’s land protected as national parks and forests, it’s easy to assume that elk, mule deer, antelope and other key wildlife species have plenty of room to roam between their winter and summer stomping grounds. But Jackson is part of a much bigger, scientifically important region, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the tiny 3 percent of land here that is privately owned is part of a network of critical migration corridors through the ecosystem.
The Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy are on a mission to protect enough open space for the Yellowstone region’s wildlife to get where they need to go. Through conservation easements and other land-preservation tools, they are working acre by acre to protect important terrain ensuring our valley maintains it visually spectacular character and remains open for wildlife.