June 29, 2026

Center for the Arts Announces $22 Million Campaign to Sustain Jackson’s Creative Community

JACKSON, WY | June 29th, 2026 – Center for the Arts (The Center) announces The Campaign for Our Creative Community, the most ambitious fundraising effort since The Center opened its doors nearly 20 years ago. The campaign, currently at 75% of a $22 million goal following two years of foundational campaign work, is designed to move The Center beyond a hand-to-mouth fundraising model and build the long-term stability needed to serve as Jackson’s creative hub for decades to come.

With construction complete in 2007, The Center was born into a nation-wide financial crisis in 2008 and consequently developed a scrappy year-to-year fundraising model to meet annual needs. All these years later, it now provides a home for 18 Resident Nonprofits and hosts programming more than 250 days of the year, up 300% from its earliest years. The Center is the busiest that it has ever been – and as its impact grows, so does its need for deep-rooted stability. 

“In its 20 year history, The Center has very quickly become ingrained in the fabric of Jackson, and helps to make this town the cultural hub that it is today,” Marty Camino, Executive Director at The Center, said. “In the course of a day at The Center, I see students of all ages bustling in and out of the building for classes, patrons streaming into The Center Theater for nationally-renowned shows, and our outdoor spaces filled with music, artisans, food, and joyful sounds of life. We’re proud to serve as a home for creativity in Jackson, and this campaign will help us continue to do that for another 20 years.”

The Campaign for Our Creative Community addresses needs through three pillars: securing $6 million for key campus renovations, $10 million to build towards a robust, reliable endowment, and $6 million for The Center to continue to deliver on its mission to the arts community. 

$6 Million: Renovate and Upgrade Key Campus Areas

Following three professional assessments of campus infrastructure, campaign fundraising supports the urgent repair of over 45,000 square feet of roofing, key HVAC and plumbing maintenance, and theater lighting and audio upgrades – ensuring The Center Theater remains a safe, state-of-the-art performance venue in Jackson.

$10 Million: Build a Robust Endowment

A robust endowment will allow The Center to draw a reliable portion of annual operating expenses rather than relying solely on year-to-year fundraising. That stability frees The Center to think beyond immediate needs and toward making the campus a nationally-regarded model for community arts, while also helping maintain subsidized rent for Residents even as building costs rise.

$6 Million: Deliver on our Mission

The Campaign for Our Creative Community incorporates annual fundraising efforts that allow The Center to continue its mission to serve as the creative hub of Jackson. Each year, fundraising helps The Center to subsidize Resident rent by 60% of the commercial rate, provide affordable and free programming for the community, and support the staff that keep the campus running. This pillar ensures that work continues uninterrupted. 

“The Center is at a crossroads of opportunity and need,” said Lindsay Wilcox, Co-Chair of The Campaign for our Creative Community. “We’ve reached a point where annual fundraising alone can no longer meet the extensive capital and operational needs of this building. A gift to The Center supports a whole ecosystem of Residents and community partners that make life vibrant, and helps to sustain a foundational institution in this community for generations to come.”

Gifts to The Campaign for Our Creative Community can be structured in a variety of ways, and through multiple vehicles. To learn more about this fundraising initiative, contact Hannah Cooley, Development Director, at hannah@jhcenterforthearts.org or 307-734-8956 ext. 135. or visit www.jhcenterforthearts.org/campaign.

About Center for the Arts

Center for the Arts (The Center) connects and strengthens Jackson Hole’s creative community by providing a dedicated arts campus and supporting excellent cultural programming for all ages. The Center is home to 18 local and regional nonprofit arts organizations, offering performance venues, galleries, studios, classes, and collaborative spaces that inspire creativity and connection. The Center places art and culture at the heart of community life through a rich calendar of concerts, performances, visual arts, lectures, and educational opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. www.jhcenterforthearts.org

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