Perrysburg Area Arts Council appoints new director

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Kay Mathias

Administrative Director Enlarge

Perrysburg Area Arts Council has named Kay Mathias of Bloomdale, Ohio, its new administrative director.

Mathias holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree in school counseling from the University of Toledo. She has previously worked as a news reporter, freelance writer, and in university public relations.

While raising her family of three children, Mathias worked as a children's librarian, substitute teacher and reading coordinator for Wood County Schools. She currently teaches as a part-time instructor for Camp Fire USA in Findlay.

Mathias said she is excited about taking on her new role at the arts council. "I am both honored and thrilled about being selected as the new director for PAAC," Mathias said. "I want to dedicate myself to making this group the best it can be by getting as many people in the community involved as possible."

The council's mission statement since 1989 has been "to inspire, develop, sustain, and coordinate arts in the Perrysburg area.

"You can feel the love for the arts that already exisits in this community," Mathias said. "I want us to build on that by connecting more with people who are already a part of the arts council, to recognize people who have been a part of it before, and to seek out our youth and other new members."

One of the group's new goals is to reinvent its current logo. Mathias also plans to use volunteers to get the arts council to a new level of enthusiasm.

Mathias said that current events such as Harrison Rally Day and Youth Summer Theatre will remain a top priority for the group. 

"I want to retain the success of the great programming that exists," Mathias said. "But we also want to focus on the commitment of starting to branch out into more diverse programs that will appeal to all age levels and interest areas of art. It has to be a goal that we move into."

Since the council is a non-profit organization, it will continue to rely on sponsorships from the community and grants. Mathias said that she wants to develiop a stronger alliance with its current sponsors. Her hope is that the group will strive to build more unification and a strong collaboration with Perrysburg Schools.

"It's very important that we establish that feeling of connection," Mathias said. "It will make the difference in how we function now and how we will grow."

The arts council is located at 134 W. South Boundary Street, Suite T. The office is open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The group currently is looking for community members to serve as volunteers and board members.

If interested, please contact Dan Boos, interim president, at 419-297-1153 or by email at danboos.artist@yahoo.com.