Our Goal
In 2007, the Ohio Arts Council fee supported musical group Elixir, started a not for profit monthly series in Knox County in order to provide an opportunity for the community to experience music, history, education and entertainment at an affordable price (donation basis). The mission for the series is to bring quality, family friendly programs that provide history beyond that found in text books, while encouraging and supporting the talent in the community. The goal is to develope a program that builds on history and education for the town to generate income and as NEA studies indicate, communities that embrace the arts make money in that crime rates are lower, education is higher and it is community building. The overall goal is to build audiences at the smaller theater and move into the Woodward Opera House in downtown Mt. Vernon when it re-opens. The Woodward is the oldest opera house of it's kind in the United States and truly an historic treasure for the state of Ohio and important to revitalizing the Mt. Vernon downtown area. The project is meant to do the above and provide a win-win situation; a performance venue for scholars to share their knowlegde as educators, provide quality educational opportunities and entertainment for the community and for community building.
All funding thus far has come from our audience donations and 3 volunteers' time and efforts. Elixir-Mike Petee,Chris Petee and Gerry Rensel, coordinate, set-up the facility, promote the programs and do all those tasks needed to run a successful organization. All funds are used to pay rental and pay the scholars and musical entertainers who open each program. The members of Elixir take no compensation unless they happen to be the musical performers on a particular show and recieve what any other performer would receive.
Update
The Chautauqua Series has recieved a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council to help support the series for the year 2010. This comes after much work on Mike Petee's part to write, re-write and re-write again the grant application. Elixir can not express in words it's gratefullness to the OHC for the grant and recognizing our efforts to promote history and the performing arts in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
All funding thus far has come from our audience donations and 3 volunteers' time and efforts. Elixir-Mike Petee,Chris Petee and Gerry Rensel, coordinate, set-up the facility, promote the programs and do all those tasks needed to run a successful organization. All funds are used to pay rental and pay the scholars and musical entertainers who open each program. The members of Elixir take no compensation unless they happen to be the musical performers on a particular show and recieve what any other performer would receive.
Update
The Chautauqua Series has recieved a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council to help support the series for the year 2010. This comes after much work on Mike Petee's part to write, re-write and re-write again the grant application. Elixir can not express in words it's gratefullness to the OHC for the grant and recognizing our efforts to promote history and the performing arts in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
