Drew Bonner took over as Tamaqua Community Arts Center director in the middle of a pandemic.

No pressure, right?

It’s impossible to plan for the future under the current state of the world. But the Tamaqua native is prepared to do everything possible to keep the nonprofit’s strong momentum heading into the new year.

“My plan is to continue the success that the arts center has had in past years however we can,” Bonner said. “Always being adaptable in the new normal. We’re going to be successful because of the pandemic, not in spite of it. That’s kind of my mentality with that; just trying to do whatever we can while being safe.”

The arts center has evolved into a multidimensional space over the past decade during former Director Leona Rega’s tenure. “Leona had such a vision for this place. I think that was really helpful and is apparent in its success.”

Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, there won’t be any sold-out shows, concerts or large events across the country.

But Bonner, the 2010 Tamaqua graduate, will adapt and improvise.

“We still have yoga every week for example; a smaller event limited to 10 or 12 people,” he said. “We build our pottery twice a week and we have a regular group of students that come. My focus has been kind of creating more events like that; instead of creating these big tent-pole events where it’s a big band or a whole bunch of people. If we can do smaller events more frequently, it could take the place of those big tent-pole and theater events (for now).

There is a ton of space at the arts center. Bonner said everyone must wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart. It hasn’t been long since Bonner has been back in town, but he said the support has been tremendous.

“I haven’t lived in Tamaqua for seven or eight years, and yet I knew even from afar that the arts center had become this central part of the community. Being here for the past month, more or less, I’ve only seen and had positive interactions with all of our volunteers. There are people who come straight from work to help with rehearsals or set up tables and chairs; anything I let people know we’ve needed help with, they are jumping to help. It’s encouraging. We’re always looking for volunteers and new things to do.”

Bonner graduated from Penn State with a music degree in 2015 and recently earned his master’s degree.

“When I was growing up here, this place didn’t exist. I was always envious since its rise and it has become an essential part of the community. I was always kind of jealous for the last couple of years, because I wasn’t able to experience this at all, as someone that grew up interested in music and art.”

Bonner said a winter cabaret is scheduled for Dec. 20. The performance will be prerecorded and virtual, but will be hosted live from the arts center.

For more information about the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, visit tamaquaarts.org or the Tamaqua Community Arts Center Facebook page.