Wondering where creativity thrives in Pelham? You’ve arrived at the Pelham Arts Center. This center is a cornerstone of the community. It provides a space and resources for everyone to experience the arts.
The Pelham Arts Center’s story began as the Pelham Art Happening in 1969. The Pelham Junior League and local artists created this town-wide art and music festival. The Art Center has been on Pelham’s main street since 1976. It has occupied its current location since 1985.
The Pelham Arts Center is small but mighty. It offers many programs. These include art education and free public art activities. The center believes that public participation in the arts fosters community development.
Inside the Pelham Arts Center, you will discover gallery exhibitions. They feature local, national, and international artists. The exhibitions showcase diverse styles like painting, sculpture, and photography. The gallery is free. It is open to the public and accessible to disabled visitors.
Pelham Arts Center also brings art outside its walls. Public art appears around the building. You can find it in the courtyard and Wolfs Lane Park. The center also hosts cultural celebrations. Community Art Day and ArtsFest have free, interactive art for all.
Education is central to the Pelham Arts Center’s mission. It provides affordable art classes and workshops. Need-based scholarships are available. There are three studios. Two are large multipurpose art studios. They have ceramics, a printing press and more. There is also a Digital Media Lab. It has iPads and iMacs with Adobe Creative Suite.
The Pelham Arts Center offers over 130 classes and workshops. These cover performing, literary, visual, wellness, and folkloric arts. Classes range from yoga to drawing and jewelry design. More than 1,500 children and adults attend classes each year.
The Gallery Education Program at Pelham Arts Center presents six art exhibitions annually. Schools and groups can take affordable docented tours. They can engage in “PAC Art Adventures” with artist presentations. Visual and literary art workshops are also available.
More than two dozen free weekend and evening art events are available. They focus on diverse cultural traditions and celebrations. Workshops include Chinese New Year and Earth Day.
The Pelham Arts Center extends its reach through community outreach programs. It offers free classes and workshops to at-risk youth and families. The center also provides its facility free of charge to other community organizations.
Pelham Arts Center relies on support from various sources. These include the New York State Council on the Arts and the Westchester Arts Council. The Strypemonde Foundation and Junior League of Pelham also contribute. Members and annual fund donors play a vital role.
The Pelham Arts Center’s impact extends far beyond its walls. It cultivates creativity. It builds community. It provides access to the arts for all. As you leave, remember the Pelham Arts Center. It is a place where art transforms lives.