Can you imagine a world, or our community, without art? The Pend Oreille Arts Council believes that art has the potential to change lives, and that passion has been at the heart of our educational mission for over four decades now. POAC works in collaboration with the Lake Pend Oreille School District, home school academies, the Lake Pend Oreille Repertory Theatre, the Panida Theater, and Sandpoint Area Seniors to bring a variety of educational visual and performing arts programs to the students and residents of Bonner County. Kaleidoscope Visual Arts Educational Outreach, providing the art classes in our elementary schools; Ovations Performing Arts Educational Outreach, exposing students to diverse cultural enrichment; Sandpoint Showstoppers, an introduction to theater arts for local students; and Art for Life, a chance for seniors to express themselves through the creation of visual art. All of these programs are free of charge for participants.

Ovations

In conjunction with our annual Performing Arts Series, POAC provides an educational outreach program called Ovations, held at schools and the historic Panida Theater. Master classes and workshops are also hosted by the performing artists, chosen specifically to reflect POAC’s interest in cultural diversity and celebration. This program serves approximately 2500 students annually, in grades K-12 (public, private and home-schooled) throughout Bonner County.

Kaleidoscope Program

Kaleidoscope Art lessons are presented at five LPOSD schools, serving approximately 850-900 (enrollment dependent) students in grades 3-6. Lessons are presented once a month and can last from one to two hours depending on the needs and interests of the classroom teacher. The program provides an academically and developmentally appropriate curriculum of carefully sequenced lessons that are aligned to the Idaho and National Core Arts Standards. We provide students with a foundational skill set in the visual arts, a platform for creative expression, and the opportunity for students to develop mastery over time. Students present their artwork within their schools upon completion and again in a public art exhibition held by POAC each spring.  Over the past 30 years this program has served over 20,000 students. . If you have a student in grade 3-6 who currently has no access to an art program please reach out and contact the Kaleidoscope Coordinator at kaleidoscope.art.education@gmail.com

Art for Life

POAC’s “Art for Life” classes began during the pandemic quarantine when volunteers at the senior center grew concerned for the mental health of the seniors, they noticed a drop in mood due to being isolated. This program seeks to empower those over the age of 60 to discover their inner artist through hands-on art classes taught by local professional artist Lilian Hicel, who is internationally known for her textured painting depicting emotion for the blind. While improvement in mood was only one of the benefits some students have taken the hobby in their own time, having enjoyed the experience that much. Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc. has generously offered the use of their space as the venue for the classes and special efforts are made to ensure that the classes are accessible to all who are interested. SASi is a centralized, accessible venue which is easily able to accommodate a classroom setting.