Join us each week and get creative!
The full schedule of summer programming includes something or everyone - of all ages. With offerings of all ages and skill levels, you’re sure to find something to help get you creating!
WORKING, A Musical - Presented by ECCOTA Summer Theater Camp
The Elk County Council on the Arts is proud to present the Summer Theater Camp performance of WORKING, A Musical, directed by Mr. Matthew Frank, on Friday, June 26.
Attend the Performance
Friday, June 26 at 7PM in the St. Marys Area High School Carpin Auditorium.
School doors will open at 6:00PM. Auditorium doors will open at approximately 6:30PM. There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. Your donation helps support the arts in Elk County through youth programming and scholarships for the Summer Theater Camp. Concessions will be available.
Attend the Camp
REGISTRATION - Opens Thursday, May 14 at 4PM. A limited number of spots are available!
The cost to attend is $75 per student. Eligible students must be in grades 9 - age 21. A very limited number of scholarships are available; details are below.
All activities will be held in the St. Marys Area High School Carpin Auditorium.
Auditions will be held on Wednesday, May 20 at 6PM. Video submissions will also be accepted.
Audition Packet
Monday - Thursday, June 22-25
Camp begins at 9AM and ends at 4PM.
Friday, June 26
Camp begins at 12 NOON. There will be no lunch break. Pizza, drinks, and snacks will be provided to camp participants before the performance. Doors to the building will open at 6PM. Auditorium doors open at 6:30PM. The performance begins at 7PM.
Clothing, etc.
Camp participants should wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and closed-toe shoes. Please limit devices that may cause distractions during downtime.
Lunch
Participants should bring a brown bag lunch and a beverage each day. There are water bottle filling stations available at the school.
Performance
Auditorium doors will open at approximately 6:30PM Friday, June 26. There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. Your donation helps support the arts in Elk County through youth programming and scholarships for the Summer Theater Camp. Concessions will be available.
Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
WORKING-2012 REVISED VERSION
is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.mtishows.com
WORKING
A Musical From the book by STUDS TERKEL
Adapted by STEPHEN SCHWARTZ and NINA FASO
With additional contributions by Gordon Greenberg
Songs by
CRAIG CARNELIA
MICKI GRANT
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA
MARY RODGERS and SUSAN BIRKENHEAD
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
JAMES TAYLOR
Orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire
ECCOTA Partners with Remake Learning Days!
The Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA), in partnership with Remake Learning Days, is excited to announce a family-friendly art experience, Mobiles: The Art of Movement, taking place on May 9 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the ECCOTA Gallery in Ridgway.
Led by teaching artist Caroline Fitch, this interactive art activity has participants exploring the fascinating world of 4D artwork: art that incorporates motion as an essential element. Students will learn about balance, design, and movement as they create their own unique hanging mobiles.
Designed for ages 8 and up, the class welcomes both individuals and families, encouraging participants to create and learn together in a supportive and creative environment.
Registration is encouraged and can be completed at the following link: https://forms.gle/DiXpoaG5MM2bQDFaA
Seussical, Jr. - Presented by ECCOTA Summer Theater Camp
The Elk County Council on the Arts is proud to present the Summer Theater Camp performance of Seussical, JR., directed by Mr. Adam Brooks on Friday, June 12.
Attend the Performance
Friday, June 12 at 7PM in the St. Marys Area High School Carpin Auditorium.
School doors will open at 6:00PM. Auditorium doors will open at approximately 6:30PM. There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. Your donation helps support the arts in Elk County through youth programming and scholarships for the Summer Theater Camp. Concessions will be available.
CAMP IS NOW FULL, thank you!
The cost to attend is $75 per student. Eligible students must be entering grades 3-10 in the fall of 2026. A very limited number of scholarships are available; details are below.
NEW - A camp for young adults grades 9 - age 21, performing WORKING - A Musical
All activities will be held in the St. Marys Area High School Carpin Auditorium.
Auditions will be held on Thursday, May 14 at 6PM. Video submissions will be accepted.
Audition Packet Download
Cast list will be shared TBA.
Monday - Thursday, June 8-11
Camp begins at 9AM and ends at 4PM. Campers can be picked up between 4PM and 5PM from the St. Marys Area High School.
Friday, June 12
Camp begins at 12 NOON. There will be no lunch break. Pizza, drinks, and snacks will be provided to camp participants before the performance. Doors to the building will open at 6PM. Auditorium doors open at 6:30PM. The performance begins at 7PM.
Clothing, etc.
Camp participants should wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and closed-toe shoes. Please limit devices that may cause campers to be distracted during downtime.
Lunch
Campers should bring a brown bag lunch and a beverage each day. There are water bottle filling stations available at the school. We will alert participants of allergies when necessary.
Performance
Auditorium doors will open at approximately 6:30PM Friday, June 12. There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. Your donation helps support the arts in Elk County through youth programming and scholarships for the Summer Theater Camp. Concessions will be available.
Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Advocate for the Arts in Elk County
Since 2009, the Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA) has proudly served as a contracted partner organization with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), newly rebranded as Pennsylvania Creative Industries (PCI). Through this vital partnership, we have distributed hundreds of thousands of PA dollars to professional teaching artists, arts organizations, community events, and creative entrepreneurs across our rural region.
Partnership regions were formed to ensure all Pennsylvanians had access to the arts.
Our Arts in Education residency program and Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts grants have brought exceptional arts and cultural experiences to thousands of residents of Elk, Cameron, Forest, Potter, and McKean counties, communities deserving access to the transformative power of the arts.
In October 2025, we received devastating news: the PCA partnership programs will end statewide in fall 2026.
This decision will have far-reaching consequences:
Two full-time positions eliminated at ECCOTA
Loss of essential administrative funding that sustains our operations
End of Arts in Education programs that bring professional artists into our schools and communities
Elimination of grant funding that supports local artists, events, and cultural organizations
Economic impact on teaching artists who depend on this income
Loss of accessible, affordable, high-quality arts programming for our communities
Our partnership region includes three of Pennsylvania's least-populated and most underserved counties. Most rural arts organizations and community events lack the budget to access PCA programs outside of partnership initiatives, but that doesn't make them any less deserving of arts funding and support.
The time to take action is now.
March 24 is Pennsylvania Arts Advocacy Day. Arts advocates from across the state will be in attendance in Harrisburg to rally with leaders in the arts from across the Commonwealth.
We need to let legislators know the impact these changes will have on the region that ECCOTA has served:
Under grant guidelines introduced for 2025–2026 and scheduled to take effect in 2026–2027, it is estimated that approximately 70% of Pennsylvania’s cultural organizations would no longer qualify for public funding through grants administered by the Pennsylvania Creative Industries. The new framework includes no clear safeguards to ensure continued support for rural communities, BIPOC-led organizations, or low-income communities.
We’re asking the PCA to recommit to their mission of directly supporting artists, arts organizations, and arts education in EVERY county.
How can you help? Contact legislators right now! Before or after March 24 - every day is a great day to advocate for the arts.
Letters may be mailed or emailed.
Key Tips:
Find contact info for your state legislators by using the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s tool: Find My Legislator
Begin by identifying yourself as a constituent.
State your support for the legislative priorities being advanced on Arts Advocacy Day.
Share your personal connection to the arts: experiences, projects, or community programs that have made a difference.
Be concise, no more than one page is ideal.
Close with appreciation for your legislator’s service.
Sign your email or letter with your full name and mailing address.
Letter/Email Template
Download the free template here: Arts Advocacy Day Letter/Email Template
_____
Dear [Representative or Senator] [Last Name]:
I am a constituent living at [City/Town] and I am writing to express my support for public investment in the arts in Pennsylvania. The arts are important to me personally because [insert a personal story — you can select from one of the examples we're providing below or add your own]. Through my experiences, I have seen how the arts bring people together, foster creativity, and enrich lives in ways that go beyond economic measures.
I am concerned that current funding priorities may limit opportunities for artists and organizations to receive state support. I strongly encourage your support for the legislative priorities being advanced on Arts Advocacy Day, to ensure that public investment in the arts continues to reach artists, cultural programs, and communities across the Commonwealth.
Thank you for your leadership and for considering how your support can help ensure that the arts remain a vital part of life in our communities.
Sincerely,
[your full name]
[your full mailing address]
_____
THANK YOU for advocating for the arts in Elk County and beyond!
Prefer to contact the PCA directly? Have you signed our plea yet? We are 500+ signatures strong to let the PCA and state officials know the arts matter to rural PA - SIGN HERE & get PCA contact information.
For more Arts Advocacy Day resources, visit:
Creative Pennsylvania
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
For more information about the PCI/PCA, visit:
Pennsylvania Creative Industries
Data and template borrowed with gratitude from Creative Pennsylvania and Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Arts Advocacy Day materials.