Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Announces Local Grants

Smethport Web — Nathan Muller

Pennsylvania Council for the ArtsThe Elk County Council on the Arts in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts has announced the award of $19,832 in grants funds through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) Program. The grants will support arts activities in Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties taking place between September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2013.

Among the Smethport recipients of grants for local arts projects are Hamlin Memorial Library and juried artist Julie Mader.

Hamlin Memorial Library will receive $1,171 to offer a “Creative Literacy” program to the library patron base and the general public through art classes, workshops and family friendly programming.

Julie Mader will receive $2,585 for creating “Power Within” — a traveling art exhibit focused on plants used in cancer fighting medicines, offering rural residents an opportunity to enjoy original paintings without traveling a considerable distance.

The awards will be presented on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at the Elk County Council on the Arts, 237 Main St., Ridgway. Award recipients, as well as local and state officials, have been invited to the event. The public is also welcome to attend.

The PPA is a regional funding program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. A total of seventeen local PPA Partners serve all 67 counties in Pennsylvania by re-granting funds to support a wide variety of local and community arts activities. Since the implementation of the PPA in 1997, the PCA has been able to steadily expand the availability of support to many new communities. By providing local administration, technical support and a streamlined application process, PPA has created unprecedented access to state arts funding.