The Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC) at Delta State University received a check for $3,000 to provide 500 free tickets for elementary students to attend its School Time Matinee Series. The grant will provide opportunities for the youth of Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Tunica County schools to experience the performing arts in a world class facility with the nation’s best professional ensembles.
Tom Pittman, Community Foundation president, visited the Delta State campus recently and presented the check to the BPAC advisory board.
“We are excited to connect with students and schools from Northwest Mississippi and bring them to the center and to our campus” said Laura Howell, BPAC arts education coordinator. “We are pleased to be able to offer 500 children from Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Tunica County schools the opportunity to attend a live performing arts experience for free. Through our partnership with the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi we are able to increase student access to the arts by removing the ticket cost barrier.”
The BPAC is offering five school-time matinees this season. The first matinee, “Seussical,” is next Thursday, October 6. There will also be a Christmas matinee, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Tuesday, November 29. Next year, the BPAC is bringing in “Junie B. Jones” on January 18, “I Have A Dream” on February 21, and “The Musical Tale of Peter Rabbit” on March 30. All shows have 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM performances.
The grant was awarded from the Place-Based Education Endowment through the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. The Foundation, incorporated in 2002, serves eight counties: Coahoma, DeSoto, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Tunica. The Foundation’s mission is to impact communities by connecting people who care with causes that matter. In the past four years, the Foundation has brought in $3.5 million for local community causes. The Place-Based Education Endowment supports teaching and learning that is rooted in the unique history, environment, culture, and economy of a particular place.
For more information on the School Time Matinee Series at the BPAC, visit www.bolognapac.com/education/matinees or call 662-846-4844.
