Photo by Christopher Duggan.
Transforming Arts and Entertainment
The opportunity:
The Vilar Performing Arts Center and Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater are two of our Valley’s greatest assets. These iconic venues are powerful economic drivers for our community. The type, caliber, and volume of programming that is now offered at our venues has eclipsed our facilities’ infrastructure.
What we will do:
We envision capital improvements that will ensure a grand future for our iconic venues. These improvements will significantly improve the experience of our guests, allow us to attract the greatest artists in the world, extend our programming seasons, and offer even more diverse programming during our peak season and off seasons.
VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL
The power to amaze
Few things can measure up to the experience of witnessing artistic mastery. The people of our community have long invested in the idea that we are home to some of the world’s finest performing arts venues and performances. As times change, so do the needs of the venues, artists, and audiences we serve.
Classical Ballet Endowment
The Carol F. Storr Endowment for Classical Ballet was established to ensure the inclusion of classical ballet in the Vail Dance Festival in perpetuity. We currently have raised $2 million toward our endowment goal of $4 million. As performance rights, artist fees, transportation and production costs rise, this endowment fund will guarantee that classical ballet offerings are always part of our Festival, and allow the Vail Dance Festival to continue to honor the legacy that President and Mrs. Ford created around cultural exchange through dance.
Vail Dance Festival Artistic Direction Endowment
The artistic direction of the Vail Dance Festival is critical. We have extraordinary artistic leadership today with our Artistic Director, Damian Woetzel. Damian is a former New York City Ballet Principal dancer and the current President of The Juilliard School. This endowment will allow us to ensure that we always have the greatest artistic direction possible for our next 35 years.
VILAR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
25+ years of making history
For more than two and half decades, the Vilar Performing Arts Center has brought world-class arts and entertainment to Beaver Creek.
Vilar Performing Arts Center Renovation Project
Upon celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2022, the Vail Valley Foundation began a renovation project at the Vilar to ensure that we can continue to offer the highest quality arts programming to our community for another 25 years. We’re excited to share that we’ve successfully completed the fundraising for this portion of the campaign. However, to ensure the facility remains world-class, ongoing support is essential. If you’re interested in contributing to this area, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Renovations completed :
- Sound system and acoustic panel improvements
- Front- and back-of-house upgrades, including a redesigned upper lobby with a new full-service bar, bistro seating area, and dedicated coat check room
- Enhanced artist green rooms and dressing rooms
- Lighting upgrades
- New HVAC system
- New projector and screen
These improvements elevate both the guest and artist experience, enhancing the Vilar’s ability to attract top-tier talent and provide an elevated pre-show and intermission experience.
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER
Mountains of potential
The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (The Amp) is one of most stunning natural amphitheater environments in the world. Its architecture is renowned and its stage has been host to the world’s greatest orchestras, dancers, rockers, comedians, and more.
It took great vision to build a summertime venue in a town known for its wintertime activities, but even those present at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater’s 1987 grand opening didn’t anticipate that the venue would become the bustling entertainment destination it is today.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater – A Renewal for The Next Generation of Performing Arts Enthusiasts
We have an opportunity to renew The Amp to meet the needs of our growing audience base and provide for our next generation. Our why is simple:
It will be good for you, our audience. The overall Amp experience will be better—better seats, improved food and beverage offerings, better acoustics, increased diverse programming from April to October, and an improved ability to meet the production needs of larger acts.
It will be better for our artists. Our improvements will provide a better back-of-house and green room experience, better production, sound, lights, and food and beverage, and an overall better stage experience. These much-needed upgrades will allow us to attract the best artists in the world.
Much of the The Amp was designed for a shorter, less active season. By focusing our resources on upgrading and expanding, we can ensure all elements of this iconic venue will meet the needs of our audience, artists, and community for generations to come.
Our Empowering Possibility campaign will allow for a series of exciting capital improvements to include:
- Multi-use studio and special event space
- Box office upgrades
- Green room, dressing room, and artist dining and lounge
improvements - New expanded storage areas
- Remodeled and expanded concessions
- Increased office space
- Expanded loading dock
- Replacement of pavilion seating
- Hand railings
- Roof repair and replacement
- Lighting upgrades
- Acoustic improvements
- Installation of solar panel system
Proposed Rendering
These improvements will allow us to achieve the following:
- Meet artist, production, and guest needs across a growing season that will regularly span from April – October.
- A 30% increase to our food and beverage operations and revenue
- A 25% increase in diverse programming during the highest peak of our summer season— between late June and late July
- Attract the most iconic artists in the world
- A competitive advantage for Vail in the highly competitive landscape of live entertainment in the state of Colorado
- To allow Bravo! Vail Music Festival and the Vail Dance Festival to maintain their positions as world-class classical music and dance festivals
- Once all improvements are completed and incremental programming is realized, we anticipate an annual increase of several million dollars in economic impact for the Town of Vail
Project Updates
Spring 2026
New Upholstered Seats with Cup Holders
New Myrtle Green color seats will be installed in Spring 2026. They are 100% fabricated and sourced in the USA and will feature upholstered seat cushions and cup holders. Hand railings will also be installed in select areas of the pavilion.
Fall 2025
Seat Removal Time-Lapse
Watch the transformation unfold in this time-lapse video capturing the complete removal of the original seating at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Weeks of work condensed into minutes.
Fall 2025
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Seat Removal
Click on the arrow to scroll through the photos. Removal of original seating, the first phase of the venue's comprehensive renovation and modernization project.
