New WMPG Underwriter

Development Corner
Dale Robin Lockman, Development Director
207 780-4151 development@wmpg.org

All of us at WMPG are pleased to welcome PCA Great Performances to our underwriter family. As Development Director I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the folks at PCA, and recently I had the honor of a leisurely conversation with Aimee Petrin, Executive and Artistic Director. We talked about the mission of the organization and how that mission drives the work they do.

Here's what the website says about the organization: PCA Great Performances is the nonprofit organization that brings a season of world-renowned classical music, jazz, opera, dance, theater and Broadway musical performances to Portland, Maine each year. PCA Great Performances contributes to the cultural, social and economic well-being of our community by presenting an array of high quality performing artists from around the world and creating diverse educational experiences that bring the enjoyment, energy and enrichment of the arts to all.

"We are a multi-disciplinary presenter," explained Ms. Petrin, "we have the flexibility and range to bring a wide swath of performing arts event to the community. And we're passionate about doing that!"

"The arts surround us," Ms. Petrin reflected, "and we are committed to the idea that this is not a passive experience for the community."

To bring artists out into the community, there is a series of events called "PCA Off-stage" which presents performance artists in unlikely and unexpected places offering workshops, lectures and programs for youth. The goal is to create a more intimate arts experience for the public. The response and participation in the community has been excellentÉ from the audiences AND from the media.

PCA Great Performances is often associated with the Merrill Auditorium, and while Ms. Petrin allows that the Merrill is a rare treasure that Portland is fortunate to have, and will always be a home to PCA, there are other venues in the area that meet the needs of certain events. Recently, a concert with Cellist Matt Haimovitz was held on the USM campus at Hannaford Hall, and a program of The Mayhem Poets took place at Portland High School.

Says Ms. Petrin, "The Merrill will always be a home to us, but since we don't own a venue, we have the flexibility to travel about to other venuesÉ. And the good news is that the community seems to be following!"

For more information about PCA Great Performances, including the schedule of performances for the remainder of the 2007 Ð 08 season, visit pcagreatperformances.org