About Us

The East Idaho Cultural Foundation was born out of a simple but powerful desire: to create a home for the arts in our community. As local performers and event organizers, our founders—Nathan and Annabelle Summers—recognized a need that went beyond their own theatre group. East Idaho was missing a dedicated, professional space where creativity could flourish, families could gather, and the arts could be experienced and celebrated by all.

Much of that passion was planted years earlier. Annabelle’s father, Robert Hibbard, helped ignite her love for the arts and inspired the vision that guides this organization today. A beloved drama teacher at Madison High School and the founder of Rexburg Community Theatre, Robert dedicated his life to theatre education and community productions. Over nearly two decades, his impact touched hundreds of lives—many of his students went on to work professionally as actors, musicians, dancers, and educators. His passion for storytelling, education, and community theatre helped spark Annabelle’s love for the arts and continues to help shape the vision of this organization today. Robert's long-held dream of building a dedicated theatre space is now becoming a shared reality through the East Idaho Cultural Foundation.

Together with founding board members Ian Gundry and Crystal Christian, and with support from neighbors, artists, and local families, we set out to build not just a building, but a cultural heartbeat for East Idaho.

Our mission is to uplift and unite our community through professional theatre, inspiring events, and accessible arts programming. We aim to provide a welcoming, vibrant space where people of all ages can connect, create, and be moved—whether they’re stepping onto the stage, into the audience, or behind the scenes.

In the next decade, we envision a thriving, self-sustaining performing arts and event center that brings together thousands each year—from students discovering their voice to families making memories, and from seasoned artists to first-time attendees. We hope to become a cornerstone for cultural expression in East Idaho, where excellence and inclusivity go hand in hand.

At the heart of everything we do are the values of creativity, community, integrity, and joy. Whether we’re producing a full-scale musical, hosting a wedding in our ballroom, or offering youth theatre camps, our goal is always the same: to make space for something meaningful.

The East Idaho Cultural Foundation is more than a venue—it’s a vision for what happens when the arts are made accessible, the community comes together, and creativity is given room to grow.