Perkins Among 26 PNC Arts Alive Grantees

A large contributor to Collingswood's own reputation as an arts community, was recognized Tuesday for keeping arts alive—both within and beyond borough boundaries. 

Recognition came Tuesday, when the PNC Foundation—through PNC's Arts Alive program—publicly announced that Perkins was among of 26 arts organizations chosen to receive PNC Arts Alive grant funding.

Perkins Center for the Arts will receive a $35,000 grant from PNC Arts Alive, according to PNC's official release, for being one of the region's leading innovators in expanding the arts to new audiences.

All 26 grantees are arts-based organizations from around the Greater Philadelphia Region and Southern New Jersey, chosen by PNC Arts Alive to receive a combined $1 million.

PNC Arts Alive is a five-year, $5 million PNC Foundation initiative that generates funding from the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. The program's mission is multi-faceted—keeping local arts accessible to residents, while expanding and engaging new audiences.

Tuesday's announcement marked the third year PNC Arts Alive awarded grant funding to deserving organizations. 

“Diversity is one of the core values of PNC,” said Bill Mills, regional president of PNC for Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. “We recognize the critical value of differences in tastes and access to the arts.  This year’s portfolio will help people experience art in new ways and in unexpected places, to engage them now and in the future.”

Of the 26 PNC Arts Alive grantees chosen this year, nine were first-time recipients—including Perkins Center for the Arts.

According to PNC's official release, Perkins' use of innovation in promoting the arts made them a top contender. PNC listed some of Perkins' most eye-catching initiatives in its official release Tuesday morning:

"Social Artworking, (which is) a social media campaign to expand and diversify Perkins Center's audience through online interactions and incentives to stimulate interest. Each Collingswood art exhibition will kick-off with a free reception—(as well as) six free Family Saturdays, (providing) activities thematically-connected to each exhibition."

Being recognized for these efforts, said Perkins Center for the Arts Assistant Director Diane Felcyn, is a gratifying incentive to keep on pushing. 

"We're just honored to be recognized and supported by a program as influential as PNC Arts Alive," said Felcyn. "And we're happy that we'll be able to bring grant funding to support Collingswood arts. The (grant) will contribute to the quality of life here, and will benefit Collingswood as a whole."

According to Felcyn, the $35,000 grant will support a Perkins' campaign beginning in June of 2011, and running through May of 2012.

"Perkins is calling this project Social Artworking, an incentive that's connected to some upcoming exhibitions at Perkins Collingswood," said Felcyn.

The social media-backed campaign will combine free public arts events for families and adults through next year, said Felcyn.

"Each exhibition we offer will include a free reception and free entertainment," she said. "And on Saturdays, during the Collingswood Farmer's Market, families of our featured young artists will be invited to take part in various free arts events.

Perkins' farmer's market events will include a portrait-painting demonstration, a doggie dress-up contest and parade, and a pottery wheel instruction course. 

Every exhibition Perkins offers will be accompanied by a free reception. Felcyn said the program kicks-off June 1, but the first exhibition—a Horseshoe Crabs exhibition—won't be held until June 25.

A full schedule of exhibitions that will checker the nearly year-long PNC Arts Alive-funded program will appear on Perkins' website soon, said Felcyn. Updates will be posted on both Perkins' Facebook and Twitter pages.

"(Perkins) plans to designate a certain amount of the $35,000 grant to each event. The money will go to artists, art materials, bus transportation for our campers who'd like to participate, and program advertising," said Felcyn. 

Perkins goal in using this grant, said Felcyn, is simple. 

"We want as many people as possible to come into Collingswood and experience the arts during our events," she said.