Volunteers with the Tamaqua Community Arts Center (TCAC) spent the last three days sprucing up the new Ceramics and Visual Arts Center in Tamaqua. Upon its upcoming completion, the center, which is directly connected to the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, will consist of class space, work space and gallery space for clay, ceramics and other forms of related projects.

"This center provides a great venue for children and adults to learn about or take part in various forms of visual arts, such as clay, ceramics and pottery," said volunteer instructor Craig Bulger. "Some of the programs to be offered here will consist of clay works, hand building, sculptures, mosaics and more."Bulger, who has been involved in ceramics and clay for the past 20 years, had donated the use of over $10,000 worth of clay and ceramic equipment, to the center. He added, "Ceramics are my passion."Volunteers of all ages spent many hours everyday over the past few days cleaning, spackling, removing nails, upgrading plumbing, painting and more to the new center, located at 127 Pine Street. Volunteers stated they had to use about four gallons of spackle in the walls alone."The turnout of local volunteers who came out to help was great," said Leona Rega, center coordinator. "We could always use more volunteers at the center." She added that volunteers don't have to be artistic to volunteer. "They do what they can when they can."Bulger, who speaks spanish and also knows sign language, is expected to start the ceramics classes by the end of the month.Organizers and volunteers are asking for donations of time and items for the new center. Some items desperately needed consist of a handicap ramp, refrigerator, lumber for shelving and a durable laundry/wash sink.Monetary donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce, 114 W. Broad St., Tamaqua PA 18252, and made out to Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, with "TCAC" written on the comment line. If you would like to help or volunteer at the new TCAC, call (570) 668-6899 or visit

www.tacp.info. To view a list of upcoming events at the center, visit

www.TamaquaArts.org.