impacting the twin tiers with the Arts

Nestled in the north central hills of Pennsylvania, in a little city called Bradford, is a bustling arts organization, the Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center, better known as BCPAC, celebrating 40 years of enriching generations with the arts. 

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BCPAC’s vision over the four decades of its existence has always been to be a leader and world changer in our region – offering innovative, entertaining, and educational experiences in the arts with the highest quality programming, appealing to a broad audience.

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Bradford has always been considered a “Good Show Town”.  From the early days of Vaudeville and continuing to the present with everything from Broadway touring shows, opera stars, top country and pop artists, ballets, world renowned dance companies, orchestras, comedians, tribute shows…For over 150 years, Bradford has been blessed with a diverse range of quality arts, which have had a huge impact on our region. 

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In 1984, BCPAC was established by a committed and civic-minded group of individuals, led by Patricia Bianco, now retired UPB Professor, along with eleven other community members who realized that a thriving arts community speaks to our community’s health and well-being. 

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Since its inception, BCPAC has hosted over 300 performing events and welcomed more than a thousand artists and a multitude of visitors and patrons to our little corner of the world.

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As the organization grew, BCPAC began reaching out to younger audience and creating opportunities for students to interact with professional artists through activities such as residencies, workshops and school assemblies. In 1995 BCPAC began what would continue on to this day, 30 years later, a residency with the Missoula Children’s Theatre Workshop, the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre group, giving hundreds of local children the opportunity to participate in live performances and foster their lifelong support of and involvement in the arts. Each year, BCPAC offers an annual Scholarship through the McKean County Community Foundation to a deserving and qualified senior in McKean County who is planning to pursue a vocation in the creative and performing arts.

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With the dawn of a new century, and an ever-growing organization, one of the pivotal points in BCPAC’s history was with the homecoming concert of one of the greatest singers of the recording era… Bradford native and international star, Marilyn Horne. A special welcoming home ceremony was held on Veteran’s Square in downtown Bradford, with the dedication of a street named Marily Horne Way.

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This was the start of a new vision for the BCPAC organization in securing its future in the region as the premiere arts organization in the Twin Tiers.  

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Entering its fourth decade, after years of fundraising and establishing an endowment, BCPAC hired its first full time executive director and continues to this day with some of the most dynamic performances from across the world. From headline entertainment to its popular summer tribute series and beyond, BCPAC’s programming has provided a little bit of something for everyone. 

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BCPAC recently launched its newest initiative to bring arts programming to individuals with special needs in our region with its SPARK Arts Program. This program helps open the door for individuals with disabilities to ignite their passion for the arts by helping them develop and express creativity, gain confidence, and enhance their social skills. SPARK Arts aims to support meaningful, integrated and creative lives through the arts, and to help make a difference.​