South Hills arts programs receive grants
The Historic Schoolhouse at 2600 South Park Road, where South Arts Pittsburgh classes are conducted.
An adult art instruction class at the “schoolhouse.”
South Arts Pittsburgh has received $2,103 and the South Park Theatre received $2,389 in grant monies.
The modest amounts are the latest in small fund dispersals the programs’ directors say they depend on to stay afloat, in addition to contributions from the public.
“We are so thankful for the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and the help they give,” South Arts Pittsburgh president Ray Black said. “Without these funds, we couldn’t teach nearly 60 classes a year to both young people and adults.”
Black said strong public participation is needed to keep classes going.
“The classes we run, we just start them and hope people show up, and they do, but we need that to continue for us to get these grants,” he said.
The arts program has a gallery show of artwork and photos Oct. 10-19 at The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon. Enrollment is ongoing for classes in the Peters, Brentwood and Bethel Park recreation centers. Classes run through Dec. 1.
As for the South Park Theatre, executive director Kathleen Caliendo said the grant award is a small part of the $125,00 annual budget.
“We’re so thankful for this and other contributions from Grable and the Regional Asset District board, but without our 650 plus season subscribers and continual support from the public, we wouldn’t be able to run so many productions.”
“We run 88 main stage productions each year – that’s eight shows, with 11 performances of each running through consecutive weekends,” she said. “Our last show for this season before our showing of ‘Santa Land Diary ‘ in December is ‘Funny, You Don’t Look Like a Grandma,’ which a musical-comedy.”
Admission for plays is $12; musicals cost $15.
Classics are in the lineup this year as well, including Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”