Dear Friends,
"Once a thriving artist colony of Spanish Revival 1920's bungalows, by mid-century, The Paseo, two miles north of downtown, was plagued by gang warfare and prostitution. Unfazed artists moved in, taking advantage of low property values and brought things back to a homey bohemianism-- with plenty of eye candy. Nearly 20 galleries, two schools for creative students, an annual arts festival inspired Forbes to name it 'one of America's most transformed neighborhoods.' "
-Travel and Leisure, October 2011.
Established as a 501(c)3 in 1981, the Paseo Arts Association (PAA), through its membership of artists and arts supporters, has been the catalyst in the nationally-acclaimed revitalization of a once-blighted neighborhood and boarded-up shopping district to a vibrant self-sustaining arts district. Additionally, the PAA, whose mission is to "enrich, educate, entertain, and inspire through the arts," develops year round arts activities, life cycle arts programming and enrichment activities to the larger Oklahoma City Community, while providing artists with a supportive environment where they can create and exhibit their work.
2011 has been an exciting and productive year for the PAA. The Paseo Arts Festival celebrated its 35th anniversary. Four new galleries opened in The Paseo in repurposed spaces. Our First Friday Walks continued to draw record crowds month after month. The PAA continued its partnership with Oklahoma City Public Schools by providing arts instruction and programming to two schools in the Paseo Neighborhood: Edgemere Elementary and Harding Fine Arts Academy, a Charter High School. The PAA also partners with Positively Paseo, the Oklahoma City Community Housing Services Redevelopment Corporation that provides affordable housing to qualified HUD applicants, as well as the Paseo Arts District, Inc., which maintains the common green spaces and walkways of The Paseo.
In September, PAA sponsored a retreat for our board of directors to develop a new strategic plan. Three major categories of priorities were identified: an expansion of Lifelong Art Education Programming, Increased Community Collaboration in the Arts, and continued Board Development.
With your support, the Paseo Arts Association will continue to do our work of: making a place for the arts to be seen heard and flourish; creating a supportive environment where artists can live, work and sell their art; and providing arts programming and cultural enrichment activities to people of all ages.
Thank you for promoting the arts by supporting the Paseo Arts Association.
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