Polk Museum of Art Receives Duke Energy Grant for Youth Digital Arts Program

The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College is pleased to announce that it has received a $9,450 Duke Energy Foundation grant to help fund its Increasing Access to PMA Youth Digital Arts Program. 

This grant enables the museum to purchase much-needed digital art supplies that will be used by 200 Polk County students ages 7-13 from low- to moderate-income level families who will participate in the PMA 2019 Spring Break Art Camp and Summer Art Camp.

“We are extremely honored to receive this Duke Energy Foundation Community Impact award that will help us build our digital supplies inventory and offer more classes in illustration, animation and photography to underserved students,” Education Manager Ellen Chastain said. “The Polk Museum has a long, successful history of providing youth from economically challenged neighborhoods with high quality art education programs at no or low cost, and this grant will allow us to serve even more.” 

PMA Executive Director Claire Orologas said, “Increasing our ability to purchase additional supplies directly impacts access for our Polk County students who do not have the means to purchase their own equipment and take these classes. We are grateful for the Duke Energy Foundation’s support to provide greater access to digital art classes for hundreds of youth who face financial barriers.”    

The PMA Youth Digital Arts Program will be integrated into the 2019 Spring Break and Summer Art Camp curricula offered daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for one week during Spring Break, and for four two-week sessions in summer. All classes are led by certified art teachers who provide students with a safe and creative learning environment to explore various art techniques, master fundamental skills, develop unique artistic visions, and learn invaluable problem-solving and critical-thinking skills that are transferable to any subject.  

To learn more about the 2019 Spring Break Art Camp and Summer Art Camp Youth Digital Art Program and how to apply for financial-need and merit-based scholarships, visit https://polkmuseumofart.org/camps/. For more details or to ask questions, contact Ellen Chastain at 863-688-7743 ext. 227 or echastain@polkmuseumofart.org.