Community Access Program
Tuition Aid
PMAC’s Tuition Aid Program provides financial assistance to families in need for private music and art lessons, as well as music ensemble participation and art classes. On average, aid reduces a student’s tuition by 81%, with the majority of awards benefiting youth students from low- and moderate-income families. Students receive a range of awards from $60 to $4,325 per year, with 50% of aid recipients receiving full tuition.
Free Music and Art Day
PMAC’s annual Free Music and Art Day allows community members to explore their creativity in a private music lesson or art class without having to pay for the experience. Providing this entry point for families who are curious about music and art study has resulted in dozens of students continuing on at PMAC throughout the year.
Creative Aging Program
Continued learning through adulthood is a valuable source of creativity and connection. With support from The Foundation for Seacoast Health, PMAC offers a sliding scale that reduces tuition for older adults enrolled in music ensembles:
- Ages 65–70: 50% off tuition
- Ages 70–74: 75% off tuition
- Ages 75+: Free tuition
The Creative Aging program also provides a series of free, group art classes throughout the year for students over age 65.
Saturday Open Art Studio
PMAC’s free Saturday Open Art Studio program is an imaginative playground for young artists ages 5–17 and their families. During the 90-minute sessions, participants can explore an assortment of art materials and mediums, and a professional instructor provides guidance if desired. These mornings provide a free, safe, and accessible space for children and families to experience the joy of creating.
Inspiration Week
For one week every spring, we cancel our usual schedule of classes to allow students to find inspiration in workshops and concerts presented by our talented teaching artists and staff, sparking curiosity and awe.
It’s important to us that students are able to see and hear their teaching artists perform in a professional setting, but often these performances are inaccessible or intimidating for children. As such, this week of workshops, lectures, recitals, and concerts is free for all students, specifically scheduled during lesson times, and hosted on-site at PMAC in order to be as accessible as possible. Certain events are also open to the general public.
West End Master Series
The annual West End Master Series features free lectures and community art experiences presented by professional artists or curators, often coordinated with current exhibits in PMAC’s Haas Family Gallery. The speakers discuss their work, approach, and process, illuminating topics around the impact of contemporary art in today’s world. These events are free and open to the public.
Guitar Sundays
Guitar Sundays is an annual series of 8 free concerts that highlights solo, duo, or trio guitar performances. Monthly afternoon concerts feature a mix of local, regional, and national artists. Guitar Sundays concerts are presented in partnership with the Portsmouth Public Library, which hosts half of the concerts on the annual series. Additional support is provided by the Boston Classical Guitar Society and The Augustine Foundation, whose grant support allows PMAC to bring guitarists from outside the New England region to perform as part of this series.
