Since 1998 when The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Center opened, we have been proud partners with the Park City School District. From student outreach opportunities to serving as the anchor facility of the Sundance Film Festival, we have worked together to make certain this amazing building was fully and fairly utilized. We have welcomed performers from the world over and the finest Utah performers. Our after-school technical theater program has served as a lifeline for students who may never appear in front of the curtain, to learn how all things work back of house. We are honored to have twice been partners in the citywide evening, Save Our Snow, addressing global climate issues.

And yet, there was always Something missing.

The beautiful, state of the art building was missing Two Somethings, as it turned out. We are fortunate beyond measure to have a very generous donor who has a good eye. It had been obvious to this donor for sometime, that to complete the statement of who we are and what we offer, needed Something to represent a sense of elegance and excitement and exquisite talent. This donor contacted us and introduced us to the bronze artists, Bob & Joh Wilfong of Henderson, Nevada, who then created two bronze sculptures for The Center. The first, outside, features two dancers in a freeform movement. Inside, a larger than life rock star, reaches to the clouds underneath the skylight. Like the proverbial icing on the cake, these two pieces, installed with giant cranes and much planning, this past August, finished off the space. The donors, when asked why they chose to gift Something so powerful and glorious, anonymously to the community, answered, simply, for the children. For the enjoyment of their own children and grandchildren to come. For future generations of children.

And, we suspect, to inspire the child within us all.

Mega Genius Supply Store and IQ HQ

In the tradition of the wildly successful Independent Pirate Supply Store in San Francisco; Park City will soon be home to The Mega Genius Supply Store and IQ HQ. Based on the successful model of Pulitzer Prize-nominated author, Dave Eggers’ 826 Valencia program in San Francisco (as profiled in his 2008 TED prize) we are launching a retail store and tutoring center to help students in the specific area of literacy. The center will be open four days a week, after school, with tutors available for two to three hours for up to 40 students. Our program will focus on ages 11-15, an age group that easily slips through a variety of cracks. As the project expands, we hope to offer in-class assistance and field trips. This project offers students a safe and creative place without the pressures of a school environment to explore, learn and create. For a successful launch, the Mega Genius Supply Store and IQ HQ seeks volunteers to guide these academic acrobats. To learn more about how you can help go to megagenius.ning.com.

Curiosities Evenings

As PCPAF celebrates its 12th year, we have expanded our organization with the development of Curiosities evenings. Modeled loosely after annual TED conferences, which "bring together the world’s more fascinating thinkers and doers," PCPAF’s salon evenings began in the summer of 2008 with an event at the SKI Magazine Dream Home in Deer Crest. Since then there have been two more intimate gatherings where national and regional speakers have shared a piece of their cutting-edge work. These have included explorations which featured music, science, visual and culinary arts, included renowned experts in each discipline, including: Atlanta-based artist L. Renay Kabus; marine biologist Dr. David Gallo from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; culinary delights from Oprah-featured Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah; and "Rocket Scientist" - Tim Douglas of Alliant Techsystems - Space Division. We are planning three more Curiosities evenings between this fall and next fall. To be included on the invitation list, call Park City Performing Arts Foundation at 435-655-8252.

THE ECCLES CENTER MAIN STAGE
All performances are presented at The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts and start at 7:30 p.m.
1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City, Utah.

Directions to The Eccles Center

From Salt Lake City:
Take I-80 East to the Kimball Junction Exit. At the end of the ramp turn right onto Hwy 224. Continue on that road until reaching the eighth traffic light (including the light on the ramp, approximately 5 1/4 miles). At the eighth light, turn left onto Kearns Blvd (the landmark on the corner is The Yarrow Hotel). Go through one set of lights and continue until Park City High School appears on the left side of the road. The Eccles Center is attached to the far side of the high school (the tallest part of the building).

From Old Town, Park City:
Take Park Ave. out of Old Town, past Albertson’s. Turn right onto Kearns Blvd. at the light by The Yarrow Hotel. Go through one set of lights and continue until Park City High School appears on the left side of the road. The Eccles Center is attached to the far side of the high school (the tallest part of the building).

From Heber City:
Take Hwy 40 to the Park City Exit. At the end of the ramp, turn left, go under the bridge and continue on that road. After passing the National Ability Center ranch and a hill on the right, you will pass the School District Building, Treasure Mountain Middle School and McPolin Elementary School. The Eccles Center is the tallest part of Park City High School, the next building on your right