Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center (BCPAC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1984, that provides creative and performing arts programs and entertainment for Bradford and the North Central Region of Pennsylvania. Since its founding nearly four decades ago, BCPAC has presented a wide variety of professional artists and programming events that appeal to a broad regional audience from various demographics, including Bradford native and world-renowned opera star Marilyn Horne, pop and Broadway star Donny Osmond, Carol Channing, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, Momix, Buffalo Philharmonic with Marvin Hamlisch, Pittsburgh Symphony, River City Brass, John Tesh, and National Republic of China Acrobats. It has also offered numerous Broadway musicals presented by national touring companies including Chicago, A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Evita, Hairspray, and Cats, to name a few. In recent years, ‘BCPAC Country’ concerts have featured such national acts as Diamond Rio, Crystal Gayle, Glenn Campbell, The Oakridge Boys, Joe Nichols, Blake Shelton, LeAnn Rimes, Ronnie Milsap, and Lonestar, among others. BCPAC realizes the importance of introducing students to the arts and continues to provide students in our region hands on experience. Many of our performers spend time with our university students and in our local schools offering residencies and fine arts enrichment programs. One of BCPAC's goals is not only to present professional artists and performing troupes from outside the area, but to also showcase, when possible, talented artists and performers from or living in Bradford. Through our Fall Music Festival, we have the privilege of partnering with the Chamber of Commerce in highlighting and supporting many of these artists in a concert for the public. Each summer BCPAC also presents a Tribute Concert Series at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford campus helping to keep alive the many hit musicians and musical groups over the decades. BCPAC recently launched its newest initiative through the talented works of local and skilled artists in our “Heart of the Arts” project. Artwork is created and displayed around McKean County, reflecting the essence of the region, giving art enthusiasts and visitors an opportunity to tour through the streets of our communities and celebrate the beauty of the North Central Region of Pennsylvania. BCPAC is especially proud of its initiatives aimed at developing an appreciation of the arts in young audiences. Our Arts in Education goal is to encourage students to meet and interact with BCPAC-sponsored performers and help fulfill their learning for the national and state fine art standards. Each year, BCPAC’s Arts in Education sponsors a week-long workshop with the Missoula Children’s Theatre Workshop, giving children in our area a life changing opportunity to experience through the arts, and culminating in a live performance by all the participants. In the future, we hope to expand on what we provide to our local schools and teachers to increase their arts awareness and opportunities throughout the school year by bringing in professional troupes with performances, workshops and materials that will further address the standards for the Arts. BCPAC also offers an annual Scholarship through the McKean County Community Foundation to a deserving and qualified senior in McKean County who is planning to pursue a vocation in the creative and performing arts. BCPAC is a member of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Elk County Council of the Arts. BCPAC is largely supported by their annual corporate sponsors, foundations and annual patron campaigns, along with ticket sales to meet their regular operations. This funding enables us to continue developing and implementing sustainable programs and projects that help promote and draw people to our region of the state, thereby “strengthening the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of our region through the arts”. We believe the arts provide a common ground, a common denominator in our shared humanity, opening up our hearts and minds to understand and accept one another in an ever-changing and diverse culture. A thriving arts community, be it visiting professional artists, local performers or artists creating something together, speaks to a community’s health and well-being and helps strengthen our community connections. Our goal is to provide quality art programming to the region that will have a positive impact on our communities and enrich people’s lives.
