The Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts (PRAx) is a 49,000 square foot arts center at Oregon State University. We present performing arts and curate exhibitions, as well as serving as a hub for arts activities at Oregon State University through our residency and fellowship programs. To learn more about our history and organization, click on our about page. To learn more about our location, hours and other information to make your trip to PRAx easy and memorable, click on our visit page.

The capital letters stand for Patricia Reser Arts, while the “x” signifies our expansive mission: to promote arts-based intersections among disciplines and to multiply the power of creativity through experiential, experimental and inspiring programming

The overhead work by Turkish-American new media artist Refik Anadol is a digital media installation based on research data derived from a collaborative project of Oregon State University and the United States Forest Service/U.S. Department of Agriculture. The form of the work was determined by an AI algorithm processing 10 thousand hours of bioacoustical recordings from microphones in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, while the images projected on the surface are those of Oregon forests continually mined from public digital sources. Learn more about this work and other public art at OSU, here.

Tickets are available online, by phone, and in person at our Box Office. For best seating options, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance and as early as possible. Tickets for individual events can be purchased here. Series and season tickets can be purchased here. The Box Office can be reached at [email protected], by phone at 541-217-3921, or for walk-up service between noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

Our Opening Festival Season runs April 5-June 15, 2024. Pre-sale tickets are available for members of Friends of PRAx, and to donors to the building or seat campaign and go on sale November 1, 2023.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on November 15, 2023. Tickets for the 2024-2025 season go on sale in spring, 2024.

Pre-sales will always be available to members of Friends of PRAx as well as the prior season's season and series ticket holders.

Early access to purchase season or individual tickets will be sent to your email address associated with your account. Please contact the Box Office  at [email protected] or 541-217-3921 for assistance accessing your account.

Season ticket holders have access to a variety of special benefits, including early ticket access, discounts on season ticket packages, the ability to exchange tickets within a season, discounts on kid supervision and more. Learn more about Season Tickets. 

No. While most of our programming, including the season ticket packages, will be known and announced in the spring prior to the relevant season, PRAx occasionally has late-breaking opportunities to bring outstanding artists to Corvallis. These performances will be added to the event calendar as they become available and announced by email and social media.

We do not allow refunds or ticket exchanges for general ticket holders. Season ticket holders and Friends of PRAx may exchange tickets for another show of equal or lesser value within the same season at no charge. Exchanges must be requested 24 hours in advance of the performance. Please contact the Box Office directly, by phone at 541-217-3921 or by email at [email protected], to request an exchange.

Tickets are always required, even for free events, in Detrick Hall and the Ray Theater. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the box office before the show. We require tickets in order to manage seating in relation to accessibility needs for patrons who require assistive listening devices, ADA seating, mobility assistance, sign interpretation and other services. Ticketing also provides PRAx with audience data that improves our ability to curate content attractive to the various communities we serve. Events that take place in the Thomas W. Toomey Lobby, Kate and John Stirek Gallery, the Austin|Parrish Arts Plaza or offsite may or may not require tickets. We recommend that you always review the ticketing details on our events calendar in advance.  

We will accommodate late seating during the first appropriate pause in the program, at the discretion of the ushers. Some programs contain no appropriate pauses, especially in the Ray Theater, and we therefore strongly encourage patrons to arrive fifteen minutes prior to show time.

In order to provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all patrons, we do not allow the following at events:

• Outside food or beverages (except factory-sealed water bottles or empty resealable bottles). 
• Items that cause distraction or safety issues during a performance, such as laser pointers, noisemakers and items/accessories that limit the view of other patrons.
• Go Pros, selfie sticks and tripods/monopods.
• Weapons of any kind. 
• Animals (except service animals).
• Clutches, purses and small handbags are permitted. Tote bags larger than 15"x15," backpacks, and large bags or luggage are not permitted inside Detrick Concert Hall and Ray Theater. Backpacks can be checked at coat check for students with valid ID.

Additionally, we ask that you park bicycles outside in designated areas.

Note: Some events may allow other items or have additional restrictions. Please review your event email confirmation prior to arriving.

PRAx is committed to making our performances, events and exhibitions accessible to all. Please visit our accessibility page for more information.

Please assume that photography, audio recording and video are prohibited unless signage at the venue entrances directs otherwise. Ushers will always be aware of the parameters for that event. Flash photography is always prohibited. Please silence your phone prior to the start of the performance.

Children are welcome at all times in the building. PRAx believes in the power of creative pursuit and conversations that challenge traditional thinking. We strive to include content warnings when we are aware that topics, images, language, context or presentation may be triggering or not age-appropriate for all audiences. Some of our events are created specifically for families and children and will be labeled as such. Others may be best suited for mature audiences and those able to sit quietly for the duration of a performance or screening. We kindly ask that you use your best discretion. At certain events, audio or video feeds will be available outside the performance hall for those who need a break.

Yes, we partner with KidSpirit to offer kid supervision at select performances. KidSpirit is a professional educational and care program located on the OSU campus. Please visit our PRAxKIDS page to learn more.

Self-guided tours are available for certain exhibitions and for public artworks on our STQRY app. Please visit our education page for information about school field trips and our visual arts page for information about current exhibition programming.

Please contact our Box Office at [email protected] to inquire about lost-and-found items.

Every patron will have a seat in Detrick Hall. At certain concerts when dancing or standing may be likely, PRAx designates set rows in the front of the theater as seated only. The purpose of this designation is to ensure that those who wish to stand or dance do not block patrons in seated only areas. Rows reserved for seated-only will be visible to patrons on the ticketing interface.

The most impactful way to support PRAx is by becoming a member or sponsor or by making a donation. Business sponsorships include unique visibility for your organization. We also encourage community members and students to consider volunteering at PRAx.

PRAx offers food and beverage service through our catering partner, Forks and Corks Catering, at many shows. When available, food and beverage service begins at 6 p.m. See our Lightbox Happy Hour page for more details.

If a show is postponed, your seats automatically transfer to the new date. If you are not available to attend on the new date, or if a show is canceled, you will have the option to receive an event credit. You may also choose to donate the value of your ticket to PRAx or to receive a full refund. In the event of a postponement or cancelation, ticket holders will be contacted by email with an update and instructions.

Yes! For all PRAx Presents events, we offer up to 25% of the house seats at $5 for University students and for youth 17 and under. In addition, PRAx offers a "Student Rush" for unsold seats at select events beginning at 2 p.m. on performance dates. Student Rush availability will be announced on social media as well as through a Student Rush email list, which you can sign up for here: https://forms.gle/LPSS4B1iSnuapCkX7

Student tickets will be held at Will Call and students must provide proof of enrollment with either a student ID, schedule or email to receive their ticket. Student Art Season events are free for all OSU Students.

We are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for everyone. Please be respectful of fellow patrons, our staff, and our property. Your decisions and actions impact those around you and we may deny entry or remove patrons not adhering to our guest policies or for any other reason deemed necessary.

Yes! For all PRAx Presents events, we offer up to 25% of the house seats at $5 for youth 17 and under and University students. Student Art Season events are free for all youth.