Membership

For 2002/03stands at 200 including 49 groups representing over 2000 people.

Newsletter

Every two months we mail out 450 ArtScenes and another 150 copies are distributed at various locations in Durham Region and beyond.

Activities during the Past Year

• Organized our fourth Juried Art Show in Ajax resulting in 190 entries. Presented $2,700 in awards.

• Partnered with the City of Pickering for the sixth annual Artfest on the Esplanade.

• Art in Public Places exhibitions at McLean Community Centre, the Ontario Power Generation Information Centre and the Ajax Library exhibited 120 artists in solo and group shows, who sold a total of 27 pieces.

PRAC artists who sold works last year from our public exhibitions were:

• Hi Sook Barker • Diane Bunn • Shirley Heard • Angela Hennessey • Nancy Howell • Janet Kershaw • Kirsty Naray • April Polak • John Raynard • Sharon Steinhaus • Pauline Stevenson • Karen Welbourn • Pat Whittle

• Organized and sponsored prize money for Snow Sculpture Competition at Winterfest in Pickering.

• Held artists' demonstrations at  Ajax Canada Day Celebrations in Rotary Park.

• Presented a sand sculpture and artists' demonstrations at Frenchman's Bay Festival

• Designed printed matter and survey for the Durham West Arts Centre committee.

• Held another successful AGM/Arts Event at the Waterfront Bistro, raising $1443 at our Silent Auction.

• Were able to give back to the community by sponsoring $6,665 to local projects and events

(to name a few*Elizabeth Loewen,youth violinist *Pickering Community Concert Band *Pickering Rotary Music Festival *Lydian Winds Ensemble).

• Increased the volume of our newsletter ArtScene by yet another  two pages, bringing it to 18 pages.

• Accepted offer of a permanent PRAC Display Case at the Pickering Recreation Complex.

• Received award from the City of Pickering in recognition of our volunteer contributions to the community.

• Partnered with United Way in the Community Power Challenge RunT-shirt design.

• Helped jury the Art & Soul Gallery Youth Art Exhibition.

• Participated in the Rouge Valley Health System Festival of Trees by decorating our Art-felt Christmas tree.

• Presented original artwork to be used for the cover of the first Young Singers C.D. Sing.

• Assisted in the design of the 856 Pickering Kinsmen Air Cadet Squadron crest.

• Responded to Ajax Walmart's request for a youth artist to do caricatures during March Break.

• Assisted McLean Community Centre to develop an Exhibition Policy for their facility.

• Discussed possibilities of a partnership with the Pickering Town Centre for arts related opportunities.

• Accepted invitation to sit on the newly formed board of the Durham West Arts Centre.

We Wish to Thank

• The City of Pickering and Town of Ajax for copying our newsletters and acknowledging that the Arts contribute to a viable community.

• The City of Pickering for our meeting space, the first Wednesday of each month at the Recreation Complex

• Marisa Carpino, Pickering Supervisor Culture & Recreation for her representation at our monthly meetings.

• Ontario Power Generation, McLean Community Centre and the Ajax Main Branch Library for exhibiting and promoting our artists.

• Our special donors and sponsors who support PRAC throughout the year.

• All donors and volunteers who helped make our Juried Art Exhibition and our AGM/Arts Event such resounding successes.

• Our hardworking executive, committee people and volunteers who make our Arts Council flourish.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine Schnippering, President