One of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s main missions is being a champion for culture.
“Celebrating culture is a vital part of building a community,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of Marketing and Community Relations for Avalon Park Group. “It helps create a sense of place and belonging through strengthening social relationships and fostering empathy.”
This is why Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is a committed partner for PFAC (Pasco Fine Arts Council). PFAC was founded in 1978 by the Pasco County Board of Commissioners, and is dedicated to providing cultural resources to the community and to encourage the knowledge and appreciation of all art forms.
The nonprofit’s center – at 4145 Fairford Drive in New Port Richey – offers art classes such as pottery building and wheeling, watercolor, and oil painting.
“Having a presence outside of just our classes is something I’ve been really pushing for,” says Lianna Tatman, executive director for PFAC.
“We’ve always been a phenomenal resource, but unfortunately, we kind of got a little more insular to where, unless you already knew about us, you couldn’t necessarily find us,” says Tatman. “Somehow we became one of the best kept secrets in Pasco County.”
Tatman studied anthropology in her undergraduate studies, but was frustrated with what was deemed worthy of cultural recognition, which is why she got into arts management.
“The arts is something that’s often overlooked,” said Tatman.
This is why Tatman is so appreciative of PFAC’s partnership with Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. The residential community promotes PFAC through its newsletters and social media, but also is working on building an arts and culture center in downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, which will be the future home of PFAC’s East Pasco center.
“We’re really excited about that. We have a lot of people that reach out to us from the east side of Pasco County that want the services we offer,” says Tatman. “So when we have a facility over in Wesley Chapel, we’ll be able to expand our outreach to even more people.”
“Partnering with someone like Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, where they have the community built right in through the nature of it … it’s a fantastic opportunity for us.”
Other ways Tatman is getting the word out about PFAC is through its monthly Art Walk that takes place every fourth Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Downtown New Port Richey. There’s live music, art activities, and shopping for local art.
The nonprofit also helps champion arts and culture through its Kids in Art program, in which it partners with Pasco County Schools to provide yearly art supplies to low income and homeless students, as well as exhibit student artwork.
The next exhibition will take place on March 26, at the nonprofit’s center in New Port Richey, and will display artwork from each grade level, including a special ranking for ESE students. Each grade level will have a first- through third-place winner, as well as overall best in show.
For more information on PFAC and how you can support its initiatives, go to www.PascoArts.org, or call 727-845-7322.
Published February 15, 2023
