Schuylkill County is
the home of some internationally known celebrities.
Schuylkill
County's strong heritage of art and ethnic culture has enriched thousands
of citizens who have grown up and shared their traditions with thousands
more-their family, friends and neighbors.
Dozens of clubs and organizations are involved in continuing
the ethnic traditions of Schuylkill County, beginning with the Schuylkill
County Council for the Arts.
Headquartered at the Yuengling Mansion on Mahantongo Street
in Pottsville (a national historic landmark), the Schuylkill County
Council for the Arts (SCCA) sponsors hundreds of events annually, linking
the county's rich heritage to all forms of arts and culture. Art galleries
and exhibitions, a pottery studio, acting, writing, poetry, painting,
woodcarving and music are but a few of the programs organized by the
arts council. The Schuylkill County Council for the Arts largest program
involves artists in education in 56 schools and prisons.
Schuylkill
County boasts its fair share of notable artistic personalities: Tommy
and Jimmy Dorsey hailed from Shenandoah; Tower City was the home of
Les Brown, founder of the Les Brown Band of Renown; and Pine Grove was
home to Conrad Richter, a Pulitzer Prize winning author.
In Pottsville, it was the jazz mastery of Alan Jaffee
of Preservation Hall fame. Pottsville is also the home of John O'Hara,
author of Gibbsville and Butterfield 8, among many other novels and
short stories.
The
Allied Artists of Schuylkill County, Penn State Schuylkill Campus
Cultural Affairs Committee, Schuylkill Ballet Theater, Schuylkill County
Community Chorus, Schuylkill
Symphony Orchestra and the historic Third Brigade Band are but a
few of the organizations that keep the arts and culture alive in Schuylkill
County.