GPAC presents world renowned performing artists, provides year round educational activities, features rotating visual art exhibits, welcomes over 100,000 guests per year, and much more. Today, GPAC is the place where all the major artists, in many different genres, come together to perform. From Yo-Yo Ma to Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck to Joan Baez, Joshua Bell to Ravi Shankar, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater to Mikhail Baryshnikov, It's Happening at GPAC! The GPAC mission is to serve the community by presenting the highest quality artistic endeavors to engage, enrich and transform. GPAC works to create and sustain an environment that is consciously inclusive of all races, ages, religions, sexual identities, gender expressions, and abilities. Our excellence derives from our diversity and we commit to continuously challenging ourselves as well as ideas and norms that hinder the full celebration of our collective humanity. We are an acoustically perfect, 864 seat venue featuring a main stage, an intimate black box theater, an elegant patron lounge, spacious dressing rooms, a lobby gallery for entertaining and assembling and a new outdoor venue The Grove. () Located in the heart of Shelby County, GPAC welcomes 64,000 citizens to our theater annually for performances, educational activities, visual art exhibits and community events. GPAC benefits from the infrastructure of a professional organization that possesses a clear direction, strong financial health, and a committed board of directors, dedicated staff, and volunteers. In all of its endeavors - quality and array of artists presented, educational programs, marketing initiatives, fund raising efforts, financial viability, community involvement, reaching underserved audiences - GPAC works diligently to fulfill its mission. GPAC provides a full subscription series of performances each season, as well as a rehearsal/performance venue for many arts groups, including the IRIS Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Memphis, Germantown Symphony Orchestra, and Germantown Chorus. GPAC has a strong commitment to education and under the direction of the Programming Director is dedicated to developing and expanding GPAC's overall education and community engagement. Current programs include kids' dance classes, guitar lessons, adult experiences, artists residencies, visual art shows and summer camps. Additionally, GPAC developed a youth symphony with student musicians and professionals conducting. Today, the program has approximately 110 members ages 8 to 18 and performs twice yearly on the GPAC stage. It is a full orchestra consisting of strings, winds, brass, percussion, harp, and keyboard. One of its goals is to expose the students to performing and learning opportunities abroad. As such, the youth orchestra recently completed a cultural and educational tour of Canada. The Jazz in the Box (JIB) series was introduced in the 2006/2007 season to sold out audiences. This popular little jazz club is held on GPAC's main stage on select Fridays. GPAC's celebrated Peanut Butter & Jam (PBJ) music education program marks its 25th season with exciting programs to introduce children, ages 8 and under, to a wide variety of musical instruments and styles. Sessions are held on select Saturday mornings throughout the concert season.
