Just because Anchorage sits amidst a giant frontier doesn’t mean that it doesn't have big-city sophistication. This longtime non-profit organization brings world-class performances of music, comedy, dance and more to Alaska’s biggest city.
A Passion for World-Class Performing Arts
Indeed, the organization dates back to a time when Anchorage was still establishing itself as an urban center. The ACA was founded in 1950 by a group of classical music enthusiasts who were committed to bringing the finest classical musicians to perform for the people of Anchorage—and the group has been a small but powerful presence ever since. The ACA has presented more than 700 performances— expanding beyond classical music to theatre, worldwide music, and dance—under the guidance of a small staff and a team of volunteers.
From Spectacular Shows to Intimate Performances
Today, ACA is one of the largest performing arts presenters in Alaska. Presenting a wide spectrum of performances, it’s the largest resident company that uses the city’s Alaska Center for the Performing Arts (known to locals as the PAC), home to both the Atwood Concert Hall and the Discovery Theatre. (Recent shows have included Wanda Sykes, Pink Martini, and holiday classic The Nutcracker.) But the PAC is not the ACA’s only venue: it also presents the Summer Concert Series, secret shows, pop-up concerts and in-home concerts at various locations around Anchorage.
Being that nimble has helped the ACA build its loyal following, drawing an audience from all over the state—from the Anchorage area, of course, but also the Mat-Su Valley, Kenai Peninsula, and even as far away as Utqiagvik. And for non-Alaskans, it’s yet another reason to time your Alaska travels to align with a show: the ACA’s season at the PAC runs from September through Map and their Summer Concert Series runs in June and July, offering a cosmopolitan accent to the Anchorage experience.
