ARTitorium

ARTitorium is an interactive art center for children and families located on West Broadway in downtown Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is operated by the Idaho Falls Arts Council, a 501(c)3 private nonprofit organization, and is housed in the historic former Rio Theater building. The center's stated vision is to provide welcoming, fun-focused, and imaginative arts experiences for kids and families, and to serve as a meaningful resource for caregivers and teachers across eastern Idaho. ARTitorium engages children roughly ages 0–12 through field trips, art classes, and a variety of hands-on interactive exhibits. Current attractions include art-making software, a giant light-bright, stop-motion animation stations, a virtual gallery, and monthly-themed art projects. The facility also contains the 136-seat MC Theater, a fully equipped yet intimate venue used for performances, music, film screenings, and private events. The organization emphasizes tactile, immersive, and play-based experiences, and encourages intergenerational participation. Beyond daily exhibits, ARTitorium offers a calendar of art classes and seasonal programming, such as fall art classes and monthly themes. It also rents its Exhibit Hall and MC Theater for private and public events, including birthday parties, speaker series, films, and recording sessions. As part of the Idaho Falls Arts Council, ARTitorium is supported by donations, sponsorships, memberships, and volunteers; a scholarship fund helps children attend classes, camps, and field trips who might not otherwise be able to participate. The building has a long entertainment history. It originally opened as the Broadway in 1924, was renamed the Fox shortly after, and became the Rio in the mid-1930s. The theater closed in 2001, and the building was later donated anonymously with the hope that it would become a lively and fun place for kids in downtown Idaho Falls. Construction on ARTitorium on Broadway began in November 2013 and was completed in June 2014; it opened to the public on August 15 and 16, 2014.

ARTitorium occupies a building with a long history as a downtown Idaho Falls entertainment venue. The structure originally opened as the Broadway in 1924. It was renamed the Fox shortly afterward, and in the mid-1930s it became the Rio. The Rio Theater operated for decades before closing in 2001. After the closure, the building was donated anonymously, with the donor expressing the hope that it would become a lively and fun place for kids in downtown Idaho Falls. Construction on ARTitorium on Broadway began in November 2013 and was completed in June 2014. The center opened to the public on August 15 and 16, 2014. It was developed as an interactive art adventure for children, housed within the old Rio Theater on West Broadway. ARTitorium is owned and operated by the Idaho Falls Arts Council, a 501(c)3 private nonprofit organization. Since opening, ARTitorium has offered a mix of interactive exhibits, art classes, field trips, and seasonal programming. Its attractions have included art-making software, a giant light-bright, stop-motion animation stations, a virtual gallery, and monthly-themed art projects. The 136-seat MC Theater on the upper level provides a venue for performances, music, film, and private events. The organization also rents its Exhibit Hall and theater for events such as family parties, speaker series, films, and recording sessions. As a nonprofit, ARTitorium relies on donations, sponsorships, memberships, and volunteers. It maintains a scholarship fund to support children attending art classes, camps, and field trips who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate. Membership to the Idaho Falls Arts Council, starting at an annual family level, provides discounted admission to ARTitorium and other benefits. The center continues to serve as a community arts resource for eastern Idaho, with an ongoing calendar of classes and events.

• 2014

  Construction completed in June; ARTitorium opened to the public on August 15 and 16.

• 2013

  Construction began on ARTitorium on Broadway in November.

• 2001

  The Rio Theater closed.

• 1930

  Became the Rio in the mid-1930s.

• 1924

  The building opened as the Broadway theater.

• 1924

  Renamed the Fox shortly after opening.

A welcoming, fun-focused, and imaginative interactive art destination for kids and families in eastern Idaho, operated as a nonprofit community arts resource.

• Interactive art exhibits

  Includes art-making software, a giant light-bright, stop-motion animation stations, a virtual gallery, and monthly-themed art projects.

• Art classes and camps

  Seasonal and monthly art classes, such as fall art classes and Friday Art School.

• Field trips

  School and group field trips focused on hands-on art experiences.

• MC Theater

  A 136-seat theater on the upper level for performances, music, film, and private events.

• Event and party rentals

  Exhibit Hall and MC Theater available for rentals, including birthday parties, speaker series, films, and recording sessions.

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