PAC (Presentation Arts Center)

The center where music, art and quilting is ministered. Check the individual titles for Music, Arts and Quilters under this link.

Presentation Arts Center (PAC)

Making Arts Accessible to All

Music Program Highlights 2019

The music program teaches children life lessons through music. These life skills include: organizational skills, time management, priority setting, grit, appreciating and respecting diversity, self discipline, and promptness. The program offers after school and summer music lessons for children in low income and immigrant families. Loaner instruments are available for students without access to an instrument at home. Lessons are provided at no cost. In return, families and students are asked to pay it forward in service to others and PAC. For example, parents help translate program materials into Spanish, more advanced students play at Mass and teach younger students, parents help organize the receptions for recitals, assist with clerical work, help at monthly Card Parties, and students perform recital pieces for elders in the community. Students perform in two annual recitals. The music program is open to children and youth K-12^th grade. A waiting list exists for piano lessons.

Current students represent diverse ethnic, faith, and racial groups; school districts and home school co-ops. As of January 23, 2020, PAC music educators provide one-on-one weekly lessons to 18 guitar students, 13 piano students, and 2 voice students. Some students study more than one instrument.

Since Arti Gras 2018, the music and performing arts program has grown in the following ways:

Voice lessons for high school students began March 2019

2 Ritenour High School students have served as dance instructors, offering hip hop, cheer, jazz, and ballet in the spring and summer 2019.

Blues adult guitar students started in 2019.

Newly formed “PAC Rats” children’s blues guitar ensemble has performed at two PAC recitals.

New sound board, keyboard, microphones for recitals and other events.

The greatest need in the music program is for additional volunteer music teachers. If you are aged 16+ and interested in teaching piano, guitar, or other performing arts lessons/classes please contact Sister Brenda 217-343-2250 text/cell.

Tutoring

To meet the educational needs of PAC music students who are not working at grade level in reading and math, tutoring began in March 2018. Approximately 10 students participate in tutoring each week. Currently, tutoring is open to children in the community, regardless if they are PAC music participants. A waiting list exists for the tutoring program. Please contact Tutoring Program Coordinator, Carolina Madrid, if you are interested in serving as a tutor 314-750-9926.

2019 Visual Arts highlights

Art by the Glass fundraisers evenings of art, fun, fellowship. $25/participant. All proceeds benefit PAC.

PAC Basement improvements—new electrical outlets, heating improvements, telephone lines and internet upgrade.

Visual Arts department held free Art Classes to local students during Spring Break.

The Visual Arts department had 2 interns to assist in Art classes. One intern also taught dance and cheer.

The Visual Arts department launched their PAC Arts Center Facebook page.

The Visual Arts Department invested in new technology to aid in teaching art classes.

How You Can Help

Pray

Volunteer to teach art, music, dance or other performing arts

Help connect volunteer teachers with PAC

Help recruit quilters or become a quilter yourself

Help promote PAC through community speaking presentations

Donate art supplies, music lesson materials, music instruments, office supplies, paper products, after school snacks, copy paper, etc. (See Wish List below)

Connect PAC with grants and other funding opportunities

Help with future PAC events.

Participate in Paint by the Glass fundraisers

OLP Parishioners can donate using the bi-annual PAC envelopes included in the box of envelopes you receive from the parish

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