Portsmouth Music and Arts Center—or as we say it, PMAC—builds community through the arts. Founded in 2002 on the belief that the arts are essential to the human experience, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit community music and arts school that provides high-quality music and visual arts education programs for ages 4 to adult.
Education and engagement are at the core of what we do. At PMAC, you can participate in private music and art lessons, music ensembles, group art classes, summer camps, art exhibitions in the Haas Family Gallery, and free concerts and events each year. We also offer ensemble, performance, and exhibition opportunities for students, professionals, and audiences.
PMAC’s mission is to build community through the arts by providing all people with the opportunity to achieve their full creative potential, regardless of their age, ability, or economic status. We accomplish this through high-quality music and visual arts education programs and by creating ensemble, performance, and exhibition opportunities for students, professionals, and audiences.
Six core values reflect our culture, inform our actions, and guide us as we do business. These shared values unite us at PMAC and help make us more than just a collection of individuals.
Our Teaching Artists are some of the region’s most talented and committed educators. They bring a wealth of professional and pedagogical experience to PMAC every day. Whether a student is just exploring, deepening a hobby, or pursuing a career in the arts, PMAC Teaching Artists offers top-notch instruction tailored to each person’s unique needs and aspirations.
PMAC is located at 973 Islington St. in Portsmouth, NH. In 2014, this bustling hub of creativity was transformed from an old mattress store into our custom-designed arts space, featuring art studios, practice rooms, the Haas Family Recital Hall and Gallery, and administrative offices. Our building has accessible parking, a ramp leading to the front entrance, and automatic doors.
Our goal, from inception, has been to provide a safe, accessible, and welcoming creative community where all people are respected and valued. We are committed to the importance of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI). We are working to weave these principles into the fabric of our school consciously. We acknowledge that there are inequities that impact access to arts education. We also understand that this initiative will take time and work to get right. As we become a more equitable organization, we will inform the community of our progress and ask that you hold us accountable.
When PMAC first opened, we only had a handful of students. Now, more than 600 people pass through our doors every week! We’ve compiled a visual overview of PMAC’s growth and notable accomplishments so you can learn more about our journey.
