“We are part of Clark State, so how can we thank them for their service because we can’t compensate them financially?” said PAC Executive Director Adele Adkins. “A lot of our volunteers are seniors are senior citizens and they have children and grandchildren. So giving credit hours is the perfect fit. You offer credit hours as a thank you.”
Nineteen volunteers who completed 75 or more hours within the 2017-2018 season were awarded the credit hours.
Chuck Killion, who has been volunteering at the PAC for 10 years, was one of them.
“I do recommend others to volunteer. It is a good program and a great college,” he said. “The great part of volunteering is helping put on great shows, providing a service back to the community, meeting new people and old friends.”
The three credit hours at Clark State are transferable, so the volunteers can help others take classes if they don’t do so themselves.
Clark State President Jo Alice Blondin said that volunteers are important to the center and the college.
“We value our Performing Arts Center volunteers, and it was time to show them how much we appreciate them,” Blondin said. “Many of our volunteers wish to pursue higher education or encourage a child or grandchild to do the same.”
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Adkins says many of the volunteers get started either because they can see a show for free or because they appreciate the arts in general. However, she said volunteers usually stay because of the community.
The 1,500-seat Clark State Performing Arts Center is important to Springfield and the surrounding area, Adkins said.
“It’s imperative,” Adkins said. “The arts and entertainment bring communities together and it’s a shared experience that cannot be replicated.”
She said professionals like doctors, lawyers and business people look for theaters like the center when deciding to settle into a city, and the Kuss Auditorium at the Performing Arts Center gives Springfield an edge.
“For the community this size, the venue is really special. It was built 24 years ago, and we are as viable today as a venue as we were 24 years ago. That is a very big deal.”
The PAC stays busy, she said. Aside from July, when maintenance takes place, the performing arts center is in constant use, she said.
“I think it’s used more than people even realize,” she said. “Our Clark State Performing Arts Center series has 12 to 14 events between September through June.
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The center is also home to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, hosts shows for the Springfield Art Council Winter Series, hosts a number of graduations and also hosts a number of different events throughout the year, she said.
“This building doesn’t go a week without being used,” Adkins said.
The Springfield News-Sun dug into Clark State’s state funding in Sunday’s edition of the newspaper and now looks at how the college is helping the community interested in arts.
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