HARRISBURG, Pa., April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), today announced its 'Best of the Best' Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts Projects. The initiative recognizes the artistic and community accomplishments of outstanding arts projects, events and activities developed in local and community settings.

Those recognized as 'Best of the Best' are:

• Julie Mader's "Power Within" (Cameron, Elk, Forest, McKean and Jefferson Counties)
• Portside Arts Center (Philadelphia)
• Fiberart International 2013 presented by FiberartsGuild of Pittsburgh (Allegheny)
• The Learning Lamp's 5^th Annual Children's Book Festival (Cambria)

"I am delighted to recognize these organizations. This is the first year the Council has selected the most outstanding PPA Projects to represent the talent, achievements and contributions of the arts to the life of the Commonwealth," said PCA Executive Director Phillip Horn. "The selection of the 'Best of the Best' provides recognition for the important role of arts support provided by state government."

Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) is the Arts Council's regional re-granting program. It engages 13 regional partners to promote and review applications and award small grants to a wide variety of local and community arts programs and projects.

By providing local administration and technical support plus a streamlined application process, PPA creates unprecedented access to state arts funding. In 2012, Partners awarded more than 800 grants to a service area reaching all 67 counties.

The 13 "Best" PPA projects in Pennsylvania were chosen from among hundreds of PPA grantees by the boards of directors of the partners. A committee of the Council reviewed these and named the best of the best.

The 9 other finalists included:

• George Junior Republic's: Pointing the Way (Mercer County), recommended by Erie Arts & Culture;
• Music for Everyone (Lancaster County), recommended by Berks Arts Council;
• Troy Youth Arts Camp (Bradford County), recommended by Bradford County Regional Arts Council;
• Little Buffalo Festival (Perry County), recommended by Community Partnerships RC&D;
• Rivertownes, PA USA (York County), recommended by Cultural Alliance of York;
• Benjamin Fehl's "Things About the House," (Centre County), recommended by Galaxy: the Arts in Education Program of Central Intermediate Unit 19;
• Dauphin County-Parks & Recreation Department (Dauphin County), recommended by Jump Street;
• Nurture Nature Center (Northampton County), recommended by Lehigh Valley Arts Council; and,
• Honesdale Roots & Rhythm (Wayne County), recommended by Pocono Arts Council.

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is a state agency under the Office of the Governor, whose mission it is to foster the excellence, diversity and vitality of the arts in Pennsylvania, and to broaden the availability and appreciation of those arts throughout the state. The council formed the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts in 1997, to expand the availability of state arts dollars and encourage and support local decision-making.

Media contact: Heather Doughty, PA Council on the Arts; 717-787-1517

SOURCE Pennsylvania Council on the Arts