The mission of the Portsmouth Area Arts Council is to integrate the arts into the lives of children and families and to encourage the cultural heritage of the region.
For over 50 years, the Portsmouth Area Arts Council has been coloring your world with the arts! Our dedication to serving the youth of the community with quality live theatre and arts experiences brings joy to thousands of young people each year.
This year, we will host the Missoula Children's Theatre for a week-long residency in partnership with the Southern Ohio Museum. We will also welcome the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company for their eighth annual Free Shakespeare in the Park performance in August. In addition, we will host various fine arts-related classes and workshops throughout the year for area students.
The Portsmouth Area Arts Council is also the parent organization for the Portsmouth Area Children's Theatre, a production company for students ages 6-18. Our ensemble of actors blurs the lines between school rivalries and socio-economic boundaries, creating a positive and welcoming environment for all involved.
This season, our Children's Theatre division will produce three musicals. One for ages 6-18: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, one for ages 14-18: Legally Blonde, and one for ages 6-13: The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition. While it is our most ambitious season to date, it will also be our most rewarding. There are several benefits to children working with others both in and out of their age group, and this year, our students will have the opportunity to do both.
Help us continue our mission and play an essential role in our success this season by contributing to our Annual Fund! We have been fortunate enough to have received your support in the past, and your contributions are needed now more than ever!
Why Do the Arts Matter?
Participating in the arts provides young people with a chance to explore their creativity and imagination in a structured and safe environment. They gain Improved Literacy Skills. From reading scripts to memorizing lines to learning to tell a story, young people continually improve their literacy skills while rehearsing and performing in a musical. They gain Public Speaking Skills & Confidence. It takes a lot of guts to stand up and sing or dance in front of your family, peers, and what may seem like the entire community. Experience with public speaking at a young age gives students confidence that will be important to them for the rest of their lives. They learn Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills. Putting on a musical is a group effort, and every member of the team must work together to make it happen. Throughout the rehearsal process, the students will learn to solve challenges as they arise. Students will learn to trust and depend on themselves and their castmates.
Where Does My Donation Go?
The following amounts are not required giving amounts; they are just some ways your donation will be put to use at our organization. We deeply appreciate any and all gifts, and every penny we receive goes straight into benefitting our students.
- $25: Stage makeup kit for a student actor
- $75: A body suit, tights, and shoes for a student actor
- $150: Season ticket package for a family of four
- $300: Students’ scripts for a Children’s Theatre production
- $500: One scholarship for an eligible Senior Company member
- $750: Specialty props and sets for a Children’s Theatre production
- $1,000: Three professionally-led theatre workshops for local schools
- $3,000: Royalty fees for a Children’s Theatre production
- $5,000: Show week rental at SSU’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
- $10,000: Costumes, Set, and Props for an entire Children’s Theatre season
Your donation to our Annual Fund makes a huge and immediate impact on the youth in our area.