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Aspen, CO (April 10, 2023): The Wheeler Opera House has developed and identified a new vision statement representative of the important work the Wheeler team executes year-round.  Wheeler Vision: At the Wheeler Opera House, we set the stage for connections that create memories for our audiences, artists, and greater Aspen community.

Over the past two years, with the landscape of performing arts ever-evolving, the Wheeler staff and advisory board engaged in a series of facilitated discussions to capture inputs and gather insights to inform potential directions for the Wheeler vision.  Many of the common themes and ideas presented aligned with the City of Aspen’s values of service, innovation, partnership, and stewardship.

Throughout the process, the Wheeler team’s role in realizing the vision itself, both literally and figuratively, was eloquently captured in the use of the phrase “to set the stage.”  The work that happens, both behind and on the stage, makes possible the connections that we value within our community.  From these connections, we envision the Wheeler’s lasting impression creating memories for all who come through our doors.  In all the ways the arts are presented without barriers, we experience the Wheeler as a welcoming space for our audiences, artists, and greater Aspen community.

“The development of this statement represents an extraordinary amount of creativity, thoughtfulness, and collaboration,” states Wheeler executive director Lisa Rigsby Peterson. “Our entire Wheeler team is excited to begin internalizing our new vision, and we are also excited to share this new vision broadly over the coming months.”