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.

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Attend the Camp
REGISTRATION - Opens Friday, May 8 at NOON. A limited number of spots are available!

The cost to attend is $75 per student. Eligible students must be entering grades 3-10 in the fall of 2026. (A separate camp for older students, grades 9 - age 21, will be announced soon!) 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 TBA.
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.

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The time to take action is now.

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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

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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]
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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.

Vintage Vegas - An Elk County Council on the Arts Gala Fundraiser

Join us in celebrating the arts in Elk County!

Step back in time to Vintage Vegas at the Elk County Council on the Arts' largest annual fundraiser of 2026. All proceeds will help fund the organization’s ongoing art programming for youth and adults in and around the Elk County area.

Attendees will enjoy table games, moody lounge vibes, and art experiences. There will be live and silent art auctions, featuring original artwork by local artists.

Heavy hors d'oeuvres, open and cash bars, and your first 10 bets are included in the ticket price. Must be 21+ to attend.

WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, April 18. 7PM. Vintage Vegas will be the debut event at the new Strand Event Center, 253 Main Street, Ridgway. We suggest parking on Main, Broad, and Court Streets.

• Live art creation by Zack Pontious, Julie Mader and Janet VanEerdan.

• Games include Baby Craps, Roulette, Texas Hold 'em Poker, and Blackjack.

• Catering by The Brew Bank Brewing Co.

DRESS
Cocktail attire. Creative, sparkly, or vintage-inspired, too!

CONTRIBUTIONS
$45 per person. Your reservation includes entertainment, heavy hors d'oeuvres, open bar (tequila shots, martini fountain, French 75s, and more!) and cash bar (Brew Bank beer), and your first 10 bets. Bring cash for additional betting, raffles, and more!

Sponsor a gaming table for $500. Sponsorship includes 2 reservations and signage at the table.
Sponsor the VIP Lounge for $1000. Sponsorship includes 4 reservations, signage, and added perks!

RESERVATIONS ARE CLOSED. PAY AT THE DOOR ONLY.
Thank you!

Can’t attend but want to contribute? Consider membership or a donation!
MORE INFO

QUESTIONS?
Contact us at info@eccota.com or 814-772-7051.

The Elk County Council on the Arts is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization (EIN: 25-1524010) and donations are tax deductible, as allowed by law.

ECCOTA Partners with Remake Learning Days in May 2026 for Spring Mobiles!

Join us on May 9, 2026 for another Remake Learning Days festival event. Taught by teaching artist Caroline Fitch, students and their families will gather at the ECCOTA Gallery to create a one-of-a-kind mobile. Mobiles are art pieces that are focused in color and movement. Through this activity, we will answer the questions “what is a mobile?” “what is 4D art?” and “why do we think many mobiles use repetition and have patterns that repeat?” The participants will have access to a large variety of materials such as embroidery hoops, string, yarn, cloth, cardboard, just to name a few.

Registration for the event is encouraged and will be forthcoming!

We can’t wait to see you all in May!