Idyllwild Arts Foundation - Idyllwild Arts Summer Program

Idyllwild Arts Summer Program

The Idyllwild Arts Summer Program (aka ISOMATA) began in the summer of 1950. Writer Norman Corwin, choreographer Bella Lewitzky, folk singer Pete Seeger, composer Meredith Willson, folk artists Josef Marais and Miranda, painter Francoise Gilot, Native American artists Fritz Scholder and Maria Martinez and photographer Ansel Adams are just a few of the artists who have taught at Idyllwild Arts and helped set the standard for arts education in the Summer Program.

Each year, during an eight-week season, the Summer Program enrolls approximately 2000 students ages five to adult in more than 95 workshops, taught by professional artist-teachers, in dance, music theatre, visual arts, creative writing, poetry, filmmaking, and Native Arts.

The program for young people features a Children's Center whose participants range in age from 5 to 12 and who select classes and workshops in a variety of arts including multi-arts, dance, piano, theatre, visual arts, poetry and journal writing.

Junior Artist's Center (ages 11–13) and Youth Arts Center (ages 13–18) offer courses to accommodate a broad range of skill levels and a wide variety of art experiences. Music opportunities include musical theatre, piano classes, jazz workshop, two bands, two orchestras and chamber music. Visual artists can select courses from introductory art exploration to ceramics, advanced painting and drawing, jewelry, photography, computer animation, mixed media, and video production. Writers can take poetry, fiction and playwriting workshops. Dancers participate in ballet, jazz and modern. Actors may take up to six weeks of Theatre Festival workshops, which includes a major performance.

Each year, Idyllwild Arts provides financial aid for young people with limited financial resources to allow them the opportunity to explore the arts—25% of young people who participate in an arts workshop are awarded financial aid totaling approximately $500,000.

Part of the program involves theme-related workshops, seminars and performances featuring renowned artists, poets and musicians. Programs include: Painting's Edge, Native American Arts, Metals Week & the Chamber Music in Idyllwild Festival.

The culmination of the Summer Program is celebrated with a concert by the Festival Choir, Festival Wind Ensemble and the Festival Orchestra. In previous years this concert ended with a performance of Meredith Willson's "In Idyllwild" by the combined ensembles.