Over fifty years ago, founders Dr. Max Krone and his wife Beatrice envisioned a beautiful and harmonious environment in which people of diverse backgrounds and experience could participate in the arts. The couple found such a setting in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California. To this day the stunning landscape of craggy peaks, dense pine forests and inviting meadows leaves an indelible impression on all who see it. It is hard to imagine that the bustling cities of Los Angeles and San Diego are only two hours away.

Having found an ideal location, Dr. and Mrs. Krone established the Idyllwild Arts Foundation in 1946. They purchased land and began to build the school that was to become instrumental in their goal "to promote and advance artistic and cultural development." In 1950, approximately one hundred adult students attended the first summer arts program at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts (ISOMATA). As classes for children, teenagers and families were added to the mix, ISOMATA's enrollment and facilities grew each year.

In 1964, under the terms of an agreement with the Idyllwild Arts Foundation, the school was given to the University of Southern California. It wasn't until 1983 that the Foundation exercised its option to resume independent management and again gained sole ownership of the school. In 1986 the Foundation established the Academy, augmenting a rich Summer Program heritage with the first independent boarding high school for the arts in the Western United States.

ISOMATA was renamed IdylIwild Arts in 1995, to reflect the commonality of purpose in the ldyllwild Arts Foundation's Academy and Summer Programs.

Summer Program
The summer tradition that began in the 1950's to bring the best artists in their fields to teach under the pines continues today. Writer Norman Corwin, choreographer Bella Lewitzky, folk artist Pete Seeger, painter Francoise Gilot, Native American artist Fritz Scholder and photographer Ansel Adams are just a few of the many artists who have taught at Idyllwild Arts. Each year more than 1,300 adults, teens and children attend the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program to participate in workshops in creative writing, dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. Week-long festivals are also a growing part of the adult program with special lectures in Native American arts and poetry.

Additionally, the Native American Arts program for adults has been an integral part of summers since the school began operating. Over the years, it has hoste some of the most prominent Native American artists including Maria Martinez, Lucy Lewis, Michael Kabotie, Amado Pea, Juan Quezada and Blue Corn.

Arts Academy
The Academy is a fully accredited college preparatory school and prepares artists for the finest conservatories and professional companies, liberal arts colleges and universities. Majors in creative writing, dance, interdisciplinary arts, music, theatre and visual arts are available to qualified students in grades 8-12 and post-graduates. Enrollment was 255 students in 1998-99. Approximately 50% of the student body is made up of young artists from California. An additional 25% come from 30 other states in the U.S., and the remaining 25% hail from countries around the world. In recent years, students have enrolled from Bali, Nepal, Thailand, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Turkey.