Pahrump Arts Council recieves $10,000 match-grant fund

The Pahrump Arts Council was awarded a large match grant ensuring its activities for the coming year are possible.

The council was presented with a $10,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support its 2015-16 Youth Arts program.

The NEA is the federal agency that focuses on giving all Americans the chance to experience creativity by participating in arts by providing support and funds to various art programs across the country. NEA aids thousands of activities in communities of all sizes across the country, including around 30,000 performances and 3,000 exhibitions annually.

"I'm pleased to be able to share the news of this award to the Pahrump Arts Council," NEA Chairman Jane Chu said. " In each community the arts have the power to create new avenues for economic health and physical vibrancy, and for people to feel a sense of pride in their locality. This grant demonstrates this power and affirms that the arts are part of our everyday lives."

Youth Arts Coordinator of the PAC Youth Arts program, Selway Mulkey, said that the 2015-16 schedule will give age-appropriate introductions to an array of art forms for students, grades K-12, including musical theater, dance, drawing, painting, sculpture, journaling, film, fiber arts, and more.

"The Missoula Children's Theatre residency will be January 18-23 for a production of "Sleeping Beauty," Mulkey said. "Saturday arts classes will be scheduled through June 2016."

More events will be announced as dates are arranged.

Despite receiving the generous sum of money, PAC president Loretta Lindell said that the award didn't just show up from out of nowhere.

"PAC was invited by the NEA to submit a proposal for this special arts in communities grant," said Loretta Lindell, PAC president. "We are delighted to receive the award, but a $10,000 check will not drop suddenly into our laps. There is hard work ahead."

The grant money will be distributed throughout the year, as the program achieves its goals. PAC is required to provide 1:1 matching funds and in-kind donations to show community support. The Pahrump Arts Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, chartered in Nevada in 1993, providing volunteer service in the arts to our community.

A calendar of events, art class schedules and signups will be available soon on the PAC website, www.pvpac.org, or flyers at public and private schools, and at the PAC office, 2340 E. Calvada Blvd., Suite B, Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The classes will be free and open to all Pahrump students, grades K-12.

For more information, call the PAC office, 775-751-6776, visit the website, or the Pahrump Arts Council Facebook page. To learn more about the National Endowment for the Arts, please visit their website at arts.gov.