The 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Performing Arts Center considers the creation of outstanding educational programs in the arts as a major part of its mission, primarily because the arts are an important part of life experiences and also because we are a division of the community-engaged 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ College of Fine Arts.
Educational Programs
The Performing Arts Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is the original home of arts and cultural programming in Southern Nevada. Located on the northeast corner of the university campus, the center is normally bustling with activity nearly every day of the year.
In addition to high-quality live performances, the PAC also emphasizes educational programming as part of its mission. During the pandemic-related closures, the PAC kept the lights on and livestreamed the talents of students from the College of Fine Arts. As the pandemic ebbed, the PAC was one of the first Las Vegas venues to reopen its doors to the public and — by partnering with the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ School of Music – presented several of the first in-person concerts in more than a year.
The PAC continues to be committed to educational programming. In the fall of 2022, flamenco guitarist Antonio Rey led an exciting workshop with classical guitar students at Green Valley High School. The PAC has sponsored visits by our visiting artists to local elementary schools (violinist Taylor Davis visited Pinecrest Elementary, for instance) and produced a free student matinee performance of Cirque Mechanics show, Zephyr.
The Clark County School District hosts its annual arts festivals in PAC venues, giving local youth the opportunity to shine, and the PAC assists other departments in presenting programs to local students (like matinees offered by the Nevada Conservatory Theatre and the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Department of Dance).
A Home for the Arts
In addition to arts education programming, the Performing Arts Center also hosts many other activities for local youth, including performances by Theatreworks USA and the Clark County School District. The performance spaces we manage also serve as laboratories for 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ student artists.
Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child in Southern Nevada is a community-wide initiative to expand arts education and ensure equity and access to the arts for all students in grades K-8. Under the leadership of the Kennedy Center, communities like ours have created specific goals to ensure all students have the opportunity to experience and be inspired in a variety of arts disciplines through arts education taught by specialists, in-school performances, and opportunities to attend arts performances and experiences in the community. In partnership with the Clark County School District, local arts organizations and artists have joined together to Ensure the Arts for Any Given Child in Southern Nevada. The 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Performing Arts Center is a proud member of the Community Arts Team of this initiative.