Bowling Green, KY (October 7, 2014) – The Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) has received a $4,000 grant from Hampton Roads Ventures, LLC. This grant will enable SKyPAC to provide transportation subsidies to area schools to offset the schools’ cost of transporting students to SKyPAC performances. The subsidies will range from 50 percent to 100 percent, depending on each school’s needs. A primary focus will be Title One schools, a designation imposed on schools where at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free lunch programs. In the BRADD area, approximately 61 per-cent of schools are designated Title One.
SKyPAC Executive Director Jan Allan Zarr stated: “We greatly appreciate the generosity of Hampton Roads Ventures. We will use this award to target the most challenged schools, ensuring that their in-ability to afford transportation does not prevent their students from attending our performances. While the majority of performing arts centers across the nation are supported by tax dollars, SKyPAC depends on grants to help offset our community outreach costs. Our partnership with Hampton Roads Ventures helps SKyPAC fulfill its mission to the BRADD region and southern Kentucky.”
Broad Program of Arts and Education
A critical aspect of SKyPAC’s mission is to provide students with a broad program of arts and educa-tional events and activities. Our student program supplements schools’ curriculum with live dramatic and musical performances, special classes and in-school activities. During the 2014-2015 school year, we are offering students six performances over nine days from September through February.
“Students who are exposed to art over time will achieve higher graduation rates and college en-trance exam scores,” stated Zarr. “Our ultimate objective is to create a better community by provid-ing opportunities for youth to experience personal achievement and creative fulfillment, while boost-ing their confidence and self-esteem and providing necessary tools to carry with them throughout every facet of their lives. To achieve this, we work alongside educators in the BRADD region, provid-ing guidance for integrating arts into the classroom through artist-in-residence programs and profes-sional development workshops.”
Contact: Jessica Kem
Marketing Manager & Gallery Director
Office: 270-904-5001
jkem@TheSKyPAC.com
About Hampton Roads Ventures, L.L.C.
Hampton Roads Ventures is a community development investment firm that partners with for-profit businesses, governmental agencies and non-profit agencies to attract private capital to severely distressed neighborhoods. Staffed by experienced community economic development professionals, Hampton Roads Ventures is extremely sensitive to the unique opportunities, challenges and constraints these underserved communities face.
Jennifer Donohue, Operations & Compliance Director of Hampton Roads Ventures, L.L.C. stated “A critical element of Hampton Roads Ventures’ mission and the New Markets Tax Credit Program is to broaden local participation in community revitalization activities. With this grant, we are pleased to help students gain access to the exciting programs offered at SKyPAC.”
About SKyPAC
SKyPAC Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, oversees the administration of SKyPAC and the Capitol Arts Center facilities and programs. A premier entertainment center, SKyPAC is a multi-use facility located in downtown Bowling Green, KY. The facility includes an 1,800-seat state-of-the-art auditorium that serves as the home of Orchestra Kentucky & Kentucky Stages; The Renshaw Education Center, which houses the Carol Wedge Studio Thea-ter – a flexible 2,600 sq. ft. space for intimate productions and gatherings; several multi-functional rehearsal halls/classrooms; a children’s art gallery and a main gallery.
The Capitol Arts Center provides a 750-seat auditorium and two art galleries, the Houchens Gallery and Mezzanine Gallery.
For more information, visit TheSKyPAC.com or call (270) 904-5000.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
