Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC)

Congratulations to Seacoast artist and PMAC teaching artist Aris Moore for recently being awarded the 2024 Piscataqua Region Artist Advancement Grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation! “Winning this grant will allow me more time in the studio,” Moore says. “It will enable me to explore larger works, and offer me the time to apply to residencies and galleries. I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity to slow down and explore more freely with less anxiety about time and money. Such an incredible gift.” As a teaching artist at PMAC for more than 11 years, Aris teaches private lessons to students ranging in age from 8 to adult. Having artists like Aris on staff allows PMAC students to learn directly from creative professionals actively shaping the Seacoast arts landscape. The entire PMAC team is delighted to see Aris being recognized with such a meaningful achievement, and we are proud to have her as part of our community, where her talent and creativity inspire students and fellow artists alike. Read more on our blog: https://lnkd.in/euDrEuvR

???? New blog post alert! Russ Grazier, PMAC's CEO, reflects on last weekend's Unity of Sound Festival and how the concepts of unity and division connect to Election Day. Head over to our blog to read his thoughts. And remember, GO VOTE.

We had an inspiring and productive PMAC Board of Directors retreat last weekend. We are so appreciative of this amazing group of community leaders for sharing their vision for the future for community arts education in the Seacoast. A special thank you to Lorna Jane Norris for facilitating.

PMAC is excited to announce the promotion of two key staff members, reflecting our commitment to delivering high-quality, inclusive arts education to students of all ages throughout the Seacoast area. Eli Kaynor, previously Director of Development, has stepped into the newly created role of Chief Development Officer. In this expanded role, Eli will oversee all aspects of fundraising and development, with a particular focus on cultivating and stewarding strong relationships with PMAC’s philanthropic partners, corporate sponsors, and individual supporters. Dr. Michelle Shoemaker, who has served as PMAC’s Director of Education on a part-time basis since 2019, has transitioned to a full-time role. This expanded position will allow Michelle to further support the growing PMAC team and enhance the student experience across a wide range of programs. Please join us in celebrating Eli and Michelle, and their tremendous contributions to PMAC! Full press release here: https://lnkd.in/e9-uTD7q

Happy National Arts in Education Week! This week we recognize and celebrate the transformative power of the arts in education. Students of all ages—from young children to adults—benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking, and creativity. As we celebrate, we also want to acknowledge PMAC's terrific team of teaching artists, staff, and leadership. They power the work we are doing in our community, and we are so grateful for their talents.

We are delighted to share the incredible lineup of artists who will exhibit their work in PMAC's Haas Gallery this coming year! ? Sept 1-Nov 1, 2024: Alicia Ethridge, "Nature of the Beast" ??Nov 4, 2024-Jan 17, 2025: Mike Jacobs, "Portsmouth and Other Delights" ??Jan 27-Feb 7, 2025: Off the Wall Student Show ??Feb 10-Apr 25, 2025: Ashley Page ??May 5-June 6, 2025: Forrest Elliott & Rebecca Klementovich, "Electricity of Color" ??June 9-20, 2025: Off the Wall Student Show These exhibitions are free and open to the public, and we can't wait to share them with our community. More details about the exhibitions and accompanying artist talks and receptions will be provided soon.

Happy World Music Day! PMAC CEO Russ Grazier and COO Katie Grazier have spent the week at the Cincinnati New Horizons Band Camp in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — a beautiful week of music-making with adult amateur musicians, camaraderie, and fun. Here's Russ leading the woodwind choir in "You'll Be Back" from the musical Hamilton. He says, "This group did an awesome job, considering they only had two rehearsals with this piece!" As people around the world celebrate the power of music today, we hope you'll join in by taking a moment to sing, play, or listen to music!

NH Gives, the 24-hour day of giving, kicks off at 5pm TOMORROW! We invite you to support PMAC's Community Access Program, which helps reduce barriers to arts engagement. Discover more about the program in our video. To participate, make your online donation between 5pm on July 11 and 5pm on July 12 here: https://lnkd.in/efjT8MsH.

Last Friday, PMAC was delighted to help with Rye Elementary School's first-ever French Music Assembly. RES World Language teacher Caitlin Piper collaborated with PMAC instructor Jim Dozet to arrange and perform live music accompanying the children singing in French. There was an amazing turnout of families and community members as the students showcased their world language skills. C’était magnifique!

Yesterday our leadership team spent the day at the NH Center for Nonprofits Conference and Expo, attending sessions and sharing ideas with fellow nonprofit leaders from across the state. Our CEO Russ Grazier also presented about the keys to a successful online giving day. Thanks for a great day!