SANDPOINT — After witnessing the success of the Arts and Crafts Fair this past August, which moved off City Beach after 45 years, to the downtown streets of Sandpoint, it is no surprise the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce has named the Pend Oreille Arts Council as the Business of the Month.

The Pend Oreille Arts Council exists to facilitate quality experiences in the arts through education programs and presentations that benefit the people of North Idaho. When one thinks of arts in and around Sandpoint, their first thought is the Pend Oreille Arts Council or POAC. POAC has been around for four decades. Their success is due to the efforts of a “working board” and an army of dedicated volunteers.

POAC started in 1978 with only a handful of concerts and a few art exhibits. Momentum and interest continued to build as audiences became larger and the number of events grew in both size and scope. As they enter their fifth decade of operation, POAC is now directly responsible for a year-round slate of events that take place on-stage, in schools, at downtown public spaces, parks, and in our many community gatherings. Their broadest reach happens directly in our local schools with their annual Student Art Show, Ovations, and Kaleidoscope programs.

“Sandpoint, Idaho, has a robust arts and music scene, making it the ideal location for POAC, and provides a strong base of support for our work in this unique and wonderful community we call home,” says POAC Arts Administrator Hannah Combs. The continued support of the community has allowed them to expand the number of galleries featuring the work of local and regional artists, as well as the number of artists taking part in the annual Arts & Crafts Fair.

POAC receives support through grants from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Western States Art Federation, the Idaho Community Foundation, the Innovia Foundation, and other public and private entities. They also receive generous support from local businesses and individuals who believe the arts are a worthy investment in their community.

POAC is administered by three part-time staff members and a volunteer Board of Directors. Committees for performing arts, visual arts, fundraising, and marketing are led by board members and supported by volunteers. Coming up for POAC is auditions for the annual production of The Nutcracker on September 27th, The Golden Ages of Transportation Art Opening Reception on September 28th, and Roosevelt Dime with Bare Grass on October 10th.

Information: Pend Oreille Arts Council, artinsandpoint.org