New Year, New Beginnings and a New Hope for the Idaho Falls Youth Arts Centre

2020 has definitely had its challenges for the Idaho Falls Youth Arts Centre (IYAC), and there is still so much uncertainty in the air surrounding all that we do with the threat of COVID-19. However, we are choosing to look to the next year with optimism and hope with new opportunities.

Supporting locals through these trying times has been a theme everywhere. No one wants to see their favorite restaurant or coffee shop close down. It is heartbreaking to hear of our favorite shops struggling. We, too, don’t want to see our beloved home-away-from-home, The Centre, close either. Over the last 20 years, we have had thousands of participants of all ages in our programs and productions. We are hopeful and optimistic that this next season will happen with the continued support of the community. The arts matter. The arts matter more now than ever as everyone is seeking release of anxiety and looking for inspiration and food for the soul.

So, how does one support an important organization such as IFYAC? There are a few meaningful ways:

• Direct Donations

  • Donations are always welcomed and appreciated.

• Sponsorships

  • If you have a business, we have sponsorship opportunities.

• Registration

  • Give the gift of dance, music or choir classes to a child in your life.

• Summer Theater Camp

  • Sign up your child for one of our camps.

• Get Involved

  • Apply to be a production staff team member. With four shows, we need directors, music directors, choreographers, set designers and builders, costume designers, producers and more.

• Buy Tickets

  • Purchase tickets to our productions and fundraising events.

Without further ado, our 2021 season is (drum roll please):

• Spring 2021: The Secret Garden

• Summer Theater Camp A:

• Disney’s Aladdin Jr.

• Summer Theater Camp B:

• Disney’s Descendants

• Fall Musical 2021: Oliver  

For the last 20 years, IFYAC has held a tradition of producing a musical in the fall. It has offered summer theater camps in the summers, and held choir and strings classes throughout the year.  This last year, a modern dance class for all ages was added. We are so incredibly excited to announce that we are adding even more to our roster of opportunities. We are taking big steps forward and offering four summer theater camps and two musicals.  

Ever since we moved into our new space at 1470 Chamberlain, we have wanted to increase our programs. We think now is as good a time as any. Our summer theater camps have been incredibly popular. We want to continue the success of the program, but we also want to have smaller group sizes to ensure better experiences for all participants. The fall musical is a standing tradition involving a lot of youth; but the board also sees a need for productions with an older cast bringing stellar local talent and professionalism to our stages.

The conversations, debates, and the many, many factors that go into these decisions are extensive:  How big of a cast is it?  Is there a specific age group we want to target? Does this program include younger children?  

It is all very exhausting and stressful. As a nonprofit, we want to service and appeal to as many people in our community as we can, and be meaningful to everyone. The decision as to which show to choose never gets easier. This last year has been challenging in so many ways, but we have been able to stay open — for now.  Even though we are planning for a bigger and better year with more opportunities for youth and adults, the threat of COVID-19 is still looming over us. With that in mind, this year, the concern of ticket sales was a bigger proponent in our consideration of which production to choose for our Fall Musical than it has been in previous years. Still, we look to the future with hope and ambition. We are an organization for all ages — the young, and the young at heart.

For more information about the IFYAC, please visit ifyac.org or see their Facebook page. 

Click here to read more of our December issue.