The California Arts Council has awarded two grants totaling $23,000 to the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center. The California Arts Council has supported the Foundation’s School Matinee Program for the past two years. This year marks the greatest amount of support that the Foundation has received from the Council.

An $18,000 grant from the Council will support the 2020- 21 season of the School Matinee Program. An additional $5,000 grant will support organizational development activities of the Foundation. The Foundation will host thousands of local K- 12 students at the PAC next season who will attend free performances. The School

foundation for the performing arts center

Matinee Program, presented by the Harold J. Miossi Trust, has grown tremendously in recent years especially with support from the California Arts Council.

The California Arts Council awarded a record-setting $29MM to California’s arts and culture institutions this year. The investment marks a more than $5 million increase over the previous fiscal year, and the largest in California Arts Council history.

“We are so happy to see that our state recognizes the true value of the arts and is committed to supporting our work and the work of our fellow cultural organizations,” said Leann Standish, Executive Director of the Foundation. “Our goal every year is to see that more students, and more SLO County residents across the board, can come to the Performing Arts Center to experience incredible live art.”

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Arts Council recognizes that some grantees may need to postpone, modify, or cancel their planned activities supported by CAC funds. The state arts agency is prioritizing flexibility in addressing these changes and supporting appropriate solutions for grantees.

Four School Matinee performances were cancelled or postponed this season due to the pandemic. The Foundation and PAC is working to see that students who missed out on a show this year are prioritized to attend next season. The PAC is following all local public health guidelines for reopening. The Foundation looks forward to bringing students back to the venue again soon.

About the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center

Established in 1986, the Foundation provides and promotes an extraordinary and accessible center for the performing arts that elevates the arts in our community, in collaboration with our partners, California Polytechnic State University and the City of San Luis Obispo. For more information on the Foundation, its mission, values and programs, please visit: http://fpacslo.org