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Staff:

• Michael Pilato, Founder and Executive Director
• Keiko Pilato, Co-founder and Program Officer
• Jesse McKinney, Artist Intern and Adaptive Art Program Assistant Director

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Jerry Walls, Chair

Bob Elion,Vice Chair

Bob Koch, Treasurer

Keiko Pilato, Secretary

Marvin Staiman

Rob Steele

Guy Pilato

Howard Ratcliffe

Rosalie Frudakis

Beth Hubbard

William Schreyer 

 

 

ENHANCING AND ENRICHING COMMUNITIES THROUGH PUBLIC ART AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

Made possible by The Schreyer Foundation

and matching contributions by our

Community Members and Businesses 

Introduction

The Public Art Academy (PAA) was founded in 2007 in Williamsport, PA by Michael Pilato, whose portrait mural, “Inspiration” has become a landmark in Lycoming County.  Dedicated to enhancing and enriching communities through public art and educational initiatives, it is the first school to focus entirely on criteria for the creation of art in the public domain and for the intersection of the arts and community development; many of the methods used to instruct students are as innovative as the mission of the school. 

Since 2007, the PAA has developed a business plan and secured a one million dollar challenge grant (matching requirements) from the Schreyer Foundation; renovated and improved its 8,000 square foot teaching/events space; established a studio presence at the newly purchased and repurposed industrial Pajama Factory; hosted 5 events and workshops; initiated national outreach through 2 successful artist in residency mural projects in Reston, VA.; conducted interactive public mural projects with a local community center for youth living in an at risk area; produced numerous mural projects locally and regionally; built a world class sculpture garden; developed the Adaptive Art Program for people with disabilities (which resulted in the invention of an innovative “wheel chair art palette” designed for artists confined to a wheel chair); and strengthened local & national partnerships & a strong Board of Directors to move the mission of the PAA forward. 

In 2009, the PAA formed its Community Supported Artist’s Studio Fund (CSASF).  Through this Fund, the community directly supports an artist by becoming a patron who pays for part or all of the artist’s annual rent for studio space. The artist provides educational opportunities through the PAA and has an exhibit at the end of the year. The PAA has confirmed its first CSASF recipient by an anonymous community contribution. 

Mission

The Public Art Academy is committed to providing the highest quality art education for students with a passion for public art. Using a new approach to curriculum, which envisions entire communities as museums without walls, the Academy pledges to provide its students with inspiring, rigorous and rewarding training, and to cooperatively work with communities to enrich their public spaces with imaginative public art that enhances the quality of life.

Goals

The Academy’s interactive goals are to integrate its curriculum with the development and implementation of public art projects while instilling positive values in its students, encouraging them to become civic-minded, explore issues that promote social justice, and become life-long contributors to their communities. The studios will be available to students to create art. We want to give them a place to go. Michael has always said that this place has to be a “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for artist.

A Community Investment

An innovative new twist -- The PAA promises a new approach to the arts with significant impact to the community. Activities of the PAA are devised with the goal of a cumulative positive effect on the overall quality of life of its students, the community and its economy by invigorating the community’s arts and cultural offerings. In addition, public art fosters an overall identity and sense of place reflecting the community’s cultural ideology and sense of economic wellness.