City of Idaho Falls to Celebrate Completion of the Frontier Center for the Performing Arts

~ The City of Idaho Falls is set to celebrate the completion of the Frontier Center for the Performing Arts with a ribbon cutting and public celebration on Wednesday, April 22, at 4 p.m. This event marks the culmination of years of planning, philanthropy, and community partnership to preserve and modernize one of eastern Idaho's most significant cultural venues.

Originally built in the early 1950s, the Frontier Center for the Performing Arts has been a staple in the community, hosting Broadway productions, concerts, recitals, graduations, and performances by the Idaho Falls Symphony. As eastern Idaho continued to grow, community leaders and volunteers recognized the need to update and expand the facility to better serve today's audiences while preserving its historic role in community life.

In 2016, then-Mayor Rebecca Casper appointed citizen committees to evaluate the center's long-term needs. A five-member volunteer group developed a multi-phase plan focused on accessibility, safety, capacity, and securing its future as a regional cultural anchor.

The first phase of renovations was completed in 2019 and included improvements such as new seating and carpeting, acoustic enhancements, updated lighting, and a new marquee. This phase was made possible through a partnership between the City of Idaho Falls and a generous $1.057 million contribution from the Bill and Shirley Maeck Family Foundation.

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The second phase of renovations transformed the center's public-facing spaces through a capital campaign led by the Civic Center for Performing Arts Foundation. A landmark $4.4 million gift from Frontier Credit Union helped bring this phase to completion and secured naming rights for the next 50 years. The improvements celebrated this week include an expanded lobby area, redesigned exterior entrance and drop-off area, as well as 27 ADA-compliant restrooms. The lobby alone has grown from approximately 2,200 square feet to 6,600 square feet – creating a more welcoming, accessible, and functional experience for patrons.

Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw expressed her gratitude for the community's support, stating, "This is exactly the kind of project our community does best. We all enjoy the shade of trees we did not plant, and the Frontier Center for the Performing Arts is one more gift we'll enjoy for generations because people in Idaho Falls stepped forward to make it happen."

Frontier Credit Union President and CEO Dan Thurman also shared his pride in supporting a project that expands access to the arts and strengthens community connections. He stated, "Our Phase II investment was about helping bring this vision fully to life, and we are honored to be part of its next chapter."

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The City of Idaho Falls extended their appreciation to Frontier Credit Union, the CHC Foundation, the Bill and Shirley Maeck Family Foundation, as well as AKM Architects, Studioi LLC, and Construction Solutions Company for their contributions towards completing this project.

Special recognition was also given to the Civic Center for Performing Arts Foundation and its many champions. The late Carrie Scheid was specifically mentioned for her vision and tireless work in moving this project forward. Foundation board members Mary Lynn Hartwell, Arthur Kull, Anne Voillequé, Judy Brower, and Executive Director Lara Herway were also acknowledged for their leadership.

Mary Lynn Hartwell, president of the Civic Foundation Board, paid tribute to Carrie Scheid's legacy by saying, "Carrie is no longer with us, but she was the driving force behind this project and so many others in our community. Her vision and relentless work made the Frontier Center for Performing Arts possible. Her legacy lives on in this building and in every performance, gathering, and celebration it will host in the years ahead."

The completion of the Frontier Center for Performing Arts represents a long-term investment in Idaho Falls' cultural life and the region. It ensures that this landmark venue can continue to welcome audiences, performers, and community events for generations to come. The City of Idaho Falls invites media and community members to attend the ribbon cutting and public celebration on Wednesday, April 22, at 4 p.m. at the Frontier Center for Performing Arts.

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