You’re Invited – Free Arts Education Event For The Whole Community!

Hello Lehigh Valley Families!

Back by popular demand, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council is proud to present the second annual Young at Art Expo on March 11, 2017. Won’t you join us? Our goal is to connect families to the arts community in an expo-style event that’s both engaging and educational. Held at Penn State Lehigh Valley from 10:00am to 2:00pm, we invite children of all ages and abilities to enjoy an entertaining and creative day – FREE to Lehigh Valley families! The day will be jam-packed with hands-on activities and performances from the participating groups, from dance routines and theatre workshops to arts demonstrations and craft projects. Information will be available for classes and camps that are perfect for creative learners. Come dance, sing, create and play! Enjoy fun with the whole family! MEET THE INSTRUCTORS AND EXPLORE THE ARTS WITH: ▪ Allegro Dance Studios ▪ The Art Establishment ▪ Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley ▪ Banana Factory Arts Center ▪ The Baum School of Art ▪ Community Music School ▪ Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania ▪ The IceHouse Performing Arts Consortium ▪ Let’s Play Books! ▪ Mayura Academy of Dance ▪ Mikayla’s Voice ▪ Nurture Nature Center ▪ Penn State Lehigh Valley ▪ Pennsylvania Youth Ballet ▪ Puertorrican Culture Preservation ▪ Roey’s Paintbox ▪ School of Rock ▪ The Swain School ▪ TLC Charter Arts Enjoy FREE face painting provided by Funtastic Faces and Body Art! RSVP to the event on Facebook

Pottsgrove Manor To Host Paper Marbling Workshop

Pottstown, PA – On Saturday, February 11, 2017 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, historic Pottsgrove Manor will host a paper marbling workshop, giving visitors a hands-on experience learning the art of paper marbling.

In this class, taught by Ramon Townsend of the Colonial Bindery, students will learn the art of paper marbling by designing colors on a base fluid and transferring the design to paper. Students will have the time to create 20-25 sheets of marbled paper.

Ages 14 and older are welcomed. There is a materials fee of $65 per person. Participants should bring a bag lunch. Class size is limited to 10 participants on a first-come first-serve basis. Pre-registration and payment are required by February 1, 2017. Pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Whose Business Is The Arts?

Throughout 2016, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council has been gathering data for the Americans for the Arts national economic impact study, Arts & Economic Prosperity V. Once every five years the Arts Council participates in this research by collecting information from cultural nonprofits and their audiences in the counties of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton. Thanks to your participation, we were able to provide nearly 100 organizational surveys and 800 audience surveys from the Lehigh Valley. Americans for the Arts will analyze the data over the next several months and provide our region with its own detailed report in June 2017. At that time, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council and the Lehigh Valley Partnership will co-host the Whose the Business is the Arts? public forum to release the results to the community and address challenges of mutual concern. You are invited to serve on the planning committee for creating the agenda for the Whose Business is the Arts? Public Forum. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2017, from 4:00 to 5:30pm, in the 2nd Floor conference facility in the Butz Corporate Center, 840 Hamilton Street in Allentown. Please RSVP your intention to attend to rforte@lvartscouncil.org by January 18, 2017. I look forward to working with you.

About the Lehigh Valley Arts Council The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is the region’s central voice for the arts, promoting arts awareness and advocating its value while strengthening access to the arts for all citizens in our community. The Arts Council’s mission is to promote the arts; to encourage and support artists and their development; to assist arts organizations; and to facilitate communication and cooperation among artists, arts organizations, and the community. Services include arts research and advocacy, professional development seminars, publications, and cooperative regional marketing initiatives.

Strive Initiative Brings Youth Development Program To Pottstown

The STRIVE Initiative & The JT Dorsey Foundation present “Go For The Goal” an inspirational song and video created by mentors and students to highlight the importance of setting goals and achieving them! Along the process we documented not only the video but also the journey and how the students along with the mentors collaborated to create a masterpiece of expression! Please Share & Donate @http://fundly.com/go-for-the-goalto help us continue youth development! ‪#‎goforthegoalpa‬

 

To learn more click on their website:  http://striveinitiative.org/ 

 

Local Artists Vie For Best In Show‏

wms-16-christ.jpg Arizona Desert by Arline Christ

wms16-shelton The City Life by Joseph C. Shelton

wms-16-zeiset Love by Sandy Zeiset

– The Working Artists Members of ArtFusion 19464 are competing for an incredible Best in Show award. The two artists who receive the most Best in Show votes will win their own show in the ArtFusion gallery in the fall of 2016. The contest is taking place during the annual Winter Member Show, an always wonderful collection of different styles and mediums, created by artists living in the greater Pottstown community.

Visitors to the gallery are asked to choose their favorite artist and make a donation in support of that artist winning Best in Show. Each $1 donation counts as one vote. Supporters can vote as many times as they like, for as many artists as they like. For those who can’t come to the show in person, online voting is available at the ArtFusion website, artfusion19464.org. Online voting ends on March 3. Visitors can also in person at ArtFusion up until 7pm on March 4, which the night of the reception and award ceremony. All proceeds from this fundraiser help support the non-profit community art center.

The reception will be held Friday, March 4 from 6-8pm in ArtFusion’s main gallery. Light refreshments will be served and the reception is free and open to the public. Please RSVP by calling 610-326-2506.

ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center located at 254 E. High St. in downtown Pottstown. The school offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression. ArtFusion’s gallery hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.  The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

NOW ACCEPTING REGISTRATION FOR YOUNG AT ART

On Saturday, March 12, 2016, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council will present Young at Art, an expo of arts camps and schools, to assist parents with selecting the appropriate summer class for their child. This inaugural event will be held at Penn State Lehigh Valley, from 9:00am to 2:30pm, and feature thirty exhibitors who offer lessons in the performing, literary, media and visual arts. Free admission to the expo is provided to the public.

Families with children (ages four to eighteen years old) will enjoy meeting the various exhibitors and learning about the artistic opportunities for their aspiring creatives. The day’s festivities will showcase an arts demonstration, performance or activity every 25-minutes so children will have a chance “to try on what kind of artist” they want to be this summer.

“The idea for a children’s arts expo came from a parent of two small children who was having difficulty identifying a summer program for both her kids,” says Executive Director Randall Forte. “Bringing people together to engage with the arts is what the Arts Council does.”

A limited number of spaces are available for arts and cultural organizations to exhibit and promote their programs, and registration will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. There will also be opportunities for exhibitors to select a 25-minute time slot to showcase a demonstration or activity.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: January 20, 2016
Early Registration: December 15, 2015 (Members only)

Click here for more information on registering!

Professional Development Series Announced‏

Professional Development Series Announced The Lehigh Valley Arts Council announces their 2016 Professional Development Series for business-minded arts professionals who wish to stay current in their field. Beginning in the new year, three seminars are scheduled that will examine new marketing strategies and advances in technology. Each session features relevant experts as presenters. Arts Council members enjoy a fee discount; however, enrollment is limited and reservations are needed in advance. Refreshments will be provided. To order tickets, visit LVArtsCouncil.org. Digital Storytelling: Put Your Best Story Forward On January 19, 2016, the informational seminar Digital Storytelling: Put Your Best Story Forward, will address the tremendous growth of the web and social media as it applies to artists and arts organizations for marketing purposes. Two presenters, Caroline Savage, Program Director of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and Ken Unangst, Owner & Founder of Digital Feast, will provide examples on how to clearly define a message in order to capture attention and engage an audience. Both of these professionals specialize in working with arts organizations and arts businesses, assisting them with comunitcating through visuals and technology. The panelists will provide examples of how to clearly define your message by addressing the following questions: What does your mission look like? How do you create a story that resonates with the community? What is the value and impact of this visual medium on your audiences? Location: Butz Corporate Center , 9th & Hamilton, 2nd Floor conference room Time: 5:30 to 8:00PM. Fees: $25 for Lehigh Valley Arts Council members; $45 for nonmembers. An Introduction to 3-D Printing On May 21, 2016, artists and designers will have the opportunity to experience 3-D Printing in a workshop that allows attendees to design and print their own creations. The process involves a scan of an object with a 3-D scanner, then uses computer technology to slowly manufacture successive layers, recreating the original form in a new material. Presenter Brian Slocum, Managing Director of Design Labs at Lehigh University, will guide the workshop and explain the endless possibilities of this innovative process as it pertains to the future of design and engineering. Location: Lehigh University, Wilbur Powerhouse Prototyping Lab Time: 9:30AM to 12:30PM Fees (includes materials): $75 for Arts Council members; $100 for nonmembers. Call for Artists: Are You Ready to Answer? On July 12, 2016, this seminar will explore the various components of a successful submission, including the right marketing materials and contractual requirements. Competition in the arts for commissions, exhibitions, and sales requires that an artist be ready in advance to submit a professional application. Organization is key to preparing your materials, but what extra steps do you need to take in order to market and promote your work in the best light? Our presenters, Sculptor Daniel Kainz and Nicole J. O’Hara, Esquire, Gross McGinley, LLP, will give insight on the entrepreneurial side of being a professional artist. Location: Butz Corporate Center, 9th & Hamilton, 2nd Floor conference room Time: 5:30PM to 8:00PM Fees: $25 for Arts Council members; $45 for nonmembers.

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About the Lehigh Valley Arts Council The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is the region’s central voice for the arts, promoting arts awareness and advocating its value while strengthening access to the arts for all citizens in our community. The Arts Council’s mission is to promote the arts; to encourage and support artists and their development; to assist arts organizations; and to facilitate communication and cooperation among artists, arts organizations, and the community. Services include arts research and advocacy, professional development seminars, publications, and cooperative regional marketing initiatives.

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Lehigh Valley Arts Council 840 Hamilton Street, Suite 201 Allentown, PA 18101 610-437-5915 / operations@LVArtsCouncil.org www.LVArtsCouncil.org / www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org

Inclusive Arts – Accessible Events For November-December 2015‏

Exhibitions ACCESSIBLE ART – PHASE II TACTILE DESCRIPTION Now through June 1, 2017 Lehigh Main Gallery Open during gallery hours Presented by Lehigh University Art Galleries & Museum Teaching Collection of multiple artists’ work in Audio Description and Tactile Description (3-D image to touch) for the visually impaired. Gallery Hours: Wed-Sat, 11am – 5pm; Sun, 1-5pm; Closed Mon-Tues. Handicap Access • Blind & Low-Vision ARTIST IN RECOVERY – MONTHLY ART EXHIBITIONS November 19, 2015 & December 17, 2015 Recovery Partnership 1:00pm – 3:30pm Featuring artists who express their journey with mental health. Held every third Thursay. Free. Handicap Access • Mental Health “LIFE ACCESSIBLE” – PHOTOGRAPHY BEYOND THE LIMITS OF SIGHT December 19, 2015 through February 22, 2016 Banana Factory Open during gallery hours Presented by ArtsQuest Photographer Stephen Cunic’s 3-D images, created using various layers and texture, allow visually impaired patrons to experience his scenes using their sense of touch. Free and open to all. Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-9:30pm, Sat & Sun, 8:30am-5pm. Handicap Access • Blind & Low-Vision

Theatre EXHIBIT A – AD PERFORMANCE November 6, 2015 Arena Theatre, Moravian College 8:00pm Presented by Moravian College Theatre A provocative, original play that shines the spotlight on issues of identity: gender, race, disability and religion. Moderated discussion to follow. Tickets: $15 General Admission; $10 Seniors. Handicap Access • Audio Description CHICAGO – AD & OC PERFORMANCE November 8, 2015 Baker Center for the Performing Arts 2:00pm Presented by Muhlenberg College Theatre & Dance Roxie Hart murders her unfaithful lover and finds herself competing with fellow jailed murderess Velma Kelly for the best lawyer — and best vaudeville bookings — in 1920s Chicago. Tickets: $22/$8. Handicap Access • Audio Description • Open Captioning MERRY CHRISTMAS, GEORGE BAILEY! – AD & OC PERFORMANCE December 5, 2015 Main Stage Labuda Center 2:00pm Presented by Act 1 DeSales University Stage production recreating the Radio Luzx broadcast of It’s a Wonderful Life, telling the timeless tale of George Bailey, the hardworking everyman who once had big dreams, as he comes face to face with his guardian angel Clarence. A clever and theatrical spin on a Christmas classic—the perfect family-friendly holiday treat. Ages 6+ Handicap Access • Audio Description • Open Captioning

Visit our web portal ARTSandACCESS.org for many more accessible events!

Celebrate And Advocate! ARTS COUNT 2015 – Join Us To Celebrate And Rally For The Arts!

Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts 321 E. Third Street Bethlehem, PA 18015 Parking is available at 3rd and Polk Streets, in the ArtsQuest overflow lot. Follow 3rd Street to Polk and turn North between Northampton Community College and Charter Arts, turn right on 2nd Street and parking is available in the ArtsQuest overflow lot. There is also street parking available close by.

FREE for Members of the Arts Council & Grant Recipients $10 Nonmembers & Guests

Arts Count Rallies The Arts Community

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council observes National Arts and Humanities Month with Arts Count 2015, an arts rally and awards ceremony, on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This year’s gathering also celebrates the new and expanded Charter Arts facility at Third and Polk Streets in South Bethlehem. “We are very excited to offer the arts community an opportunity to tour this 80,000 square-foot facility,” says Forte, “now equipped with a recording studio, a black box studio, four dance studios, expanded art studios and gallery, and a 350-seat performing arts theatre. Wow!” ARTS COUNT serves as the occasion for the Lehigh Valley Arts Council to distribute grant awards to the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) Project Stream recipients in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. The Project Stream is open to individual artists and community groups who apply for support of an arts-related project with strong public impact. More than $34,000 in state funds will be awarded to twenty-seven applicants for activities September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016. “Arts Count celebrates the public/private partnerships that fuel the arts in our region,” says Executive Director Randall Forte, “and features local business and foundation leaders giving testimony on the value and impact of the arts.” Locally elected officials are invited to present checks to the grant recipients from their districts. In keeping with the spirit of fellowship, Arts Council members are encouraged to bring a guest and rally for the arts. PPA, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, is designed to widen the circle of funding opportunities in support of arts activities throughout the Commonwealth. The grant application and award process is administered by the Arts Council staff, who convene advisory panels from the cultural community to review the proposals for artistic excellence and public impact. This year, grant activities will reach a wide range of constituents, from young children to senior citizens, and engage audiences in projects that include Latin, Native American, and Asian cultural festivals; multidisciplinary endeavors in dance, theatre, film, photography and music; public arts events, classes, and exhibits in sculpture gardens, heritage centers, county museums and campus galleries, bus shelters, and city streets. Among this year’s grantees, there are ten first-time grantees. The grant awards recipiencts are: ALLENTOWN PUBLIC THEATRE ANNA CHUPA ANTHONY SMITH/ART REGISTRY BETHLEHEM FINE ARTS BOROUGH OF EMMAUS CHURCH OF THE MANGER FRIENDS OF THE ALLENTOWN PARKS HELLERTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY HISPANIC AMERICAN LEAGUE ARTISTS LEHIGH RIVER BLUES JAM LEHIGH VALLEY DANCE EXCHANGE LYDIA PANAS MARILYN HAZLETON MARTHA MONROY MICHELLE NEIFERT MORAVIAN COLLEGE MUSIC INSTITUTE MUSEUM OF INDIAN CULTURE NORA SUGGS/FAIRFIELD DUO NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY PA JAZZ COLLECTIVE PENN STATE LV ART GALLERY PUERTO RICAN CULTURE FESTIVAL SARAH STEELE/SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK SUMMIT HILL HERITAGE CENTER TOTTS GAP ARTS INSTITUTE UKRAINIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION WDIY 88.1 FM PUBLIC RADIO The October reception is supported by Gross McGinley, LLP and PPL, and is free to Arts Council members and grant recipients; the cost to guests and nonmembers is $10. Refreshments will be served. R.S.V.P. to 610-437-5915 to attend. For information about the PPA grant application, contact PA Partners in the Arts Coordinator Marilyn Roberts at ppa@LVArtsCouncil.org.

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About the Lehigh Valley Arts Council The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is the region’s central voice for the arts, promoting arts awareness and advocating its value while strengthening access to the arts for all citizens in our community. The Arts Council’s mission is to promote the arts; to encourage and support artists and their development; to assist arts organizations; and to facilitate communication and cooperation among artists, arts organizations, and the community. Services include arts research and advocacy, professional development seminars, publications, and cooperative regional marketing initiatives.

ARTS RALLY & PA PARTNERS IN THE ARTS AWARDS

ARTS COUNT 2015 Tuesday, October 13, 2015 5:30pm – 7:30pm Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts 321 E. Third Street Bethlehem, PA 18015 Together, let’s ACT… ADVOCATE FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE STATE BUDGET CELEBRATE THIS YEAR’S 27 GRANT RECIPIENTS TOUR THE NEW CHARTER ARTS FACILITY

FREE for Members of the Arts Council & Grant Recipients $10 Nonmembers & Guests Refreshments & fellowship provided To purchase your tickets online, click here! RSVP: info@lvartscouncil.org

Premiere Sponsors: PPL & Gross McGinley, LLP

How Would You Like To See Your State Tax Dollars Spent?

Arts advocacy requires an ongoing conversation with both our elected and appointed government officials. Since negotiations for the state budget have stalled, it’s time for citizens to help to set priorities. Let the Commonwealth’s current budget impasse prompt you to contact them and remind them with a personal story of how much the arts mean to you and your family.

A father wrote to me about the sensory-friendly performance of a children’s play attended by his child with autism. They thanked Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre for their effort to understand the daily challenges faced by families like theirs. “Our son may not have the chance to do so many things in life that others do,” they said. “It was a very special day.”

A thriving arts community does not exist in isolation. While engagement in the arts affects people in deeply quiet ways, the arts experience can unite us around shared values:

• We believe that everyone in the Lehigh Valley deserves access to our rich diverse arts culture.
• We take pride in locally produced arts experiences; they are integral to the region’s cultural infrastructure.
• We realize that the arts are essential to our economic vitality and quality of life.

The Lehigh Valley is the third largest region in the state; it deserves recognition and its equal share of reallocated state tax dollars. An individual story sends a powerful message. Many stories command attention.

Randall Forte
Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Arts Council

The New York Times Spends 36 Hours in Pittsburgh

Beyond Pittsburgh’s pretty downtown, transformation and momentum reign, with former industrial areas giving way to restaurants, shops and art venues.

Click here to watch the just under 6 minute video.

Teen Artists Compete For $10,000 Arts Scholarship

POTTSTOWN, PA – On Saturday, May 16, one talented young artist will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Greater Pottstown Foundation. This is the fifth year for the scholarship event, a partnership between ArtFusion 19464 and the Foundation. The Greater Pottstown Foundation Scholarship for the Arts is designed to financially assist a local high school senior in obtaining a degree from accredited academic institutions of higher learning for study in the arts. The applicant’s intended field of study can include a major or a minor in a visual arts-related field.

The scholarship is awarded based on two criteria. The students must first write an essay on why they want to continue their education in the arts. Then the students create three pieces of art to be displayed at the Greater Pottstown Foundation Scholarship Art Exhibit at ArtFusion 19464. Also on display during the exhibit will be work from other students at the participating schools.

Students from Pottstown, Pottsgrove, Owen J. Roberts and the Hill School were eligible to apply. The 2015 applicants are Sarah Berkey, Tessa Bridges, Julianna Clark, Tyesha Lewis, Jennifer Miller, Ben Mizic, Alyssa Ott, Donna Oyella, Lexi Rodriguez, and Luke Steltz.

The show will run from May 16 through May 30 and can be seen any time during normal gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm. ArtFusion is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center located at 254 E. High St. in downtown Pottstown. The school offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence. ArtFusion’s gallery hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.  The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

Crowdfunding: What It Means For The Arts

In the increasingly competitive environment for arts funding, artists and emerging organizations are finding both access and success through crowdsourcing platforms. As part of its Professional Development Series, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council is presenting a crowdfunding seminar, featuring the largest arts fiscal sponsor in the country, Fractured Atlas, on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, at Penn State Lehigh Valley from 5:30 to 8:00PM. Fractured Atlas helps more than 3,500 artists and organizations in every discipline to find funding and other resources to support their creative projects. With fiscal sponsorship, one can solicit tax-deductible donations and apply for grants; the sponsored “project” might be a one-time collaboration or an independent artist or even an arts organization that does not have its own 501(c)(3) status. “The popularity of crowdfunding is definitely on the rise,” says Randall Forte, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Arts Council. “We are pleased to offer the arts community this opportunity to learn first-hand how it works.” Fractured Atlas Project Specialist Theresa Hubbard from the New York office will serve on a panel with local arts professionals who have used the program. Hubbard will explain the application process and the many of the ancillary benefits that the company provides, such as marketing and ticketing services. The basic criteria for eligibility to attain a fiscal sponsorship are: 1. You must be a Professional or Organizational member of Fractured Atlas. 2. You must submit the online application. 3. Your project must be artistic. 4. Your project must have some public benefit and be non-commercial in nature. Refreshments will be provided. The fee is $30 for Lehigh Valley Arts Council members, $50 for nonmembers. Registration is required. To order tickets, visit LVArtsCouncil.org.

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About the Lehigh Valley Arts Council The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is the region’s central voice for the arts, promoting arts awareness and advocating its value while strengthening access to the arts for all citizens in our community. The Arts Council’s mission is to promote the arts; to encourage and support artists and their development; to assist arts organizations; and to facilitate communication and cooperation among artists, arts organizations, and the community. Services include arts research and advocacy, professional development seminars, publications, and cooperative regional marketing initiatives.

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Lehigh Valley Arts Council 840 Hamilton Street, Suite 201 Allentown, PA 18101 610-437-5915 / operations@LVArtsCouncil.org www.LVArtsCouncil.org / www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org

Accessing The Cultural Community: A Celebration Of Vision

The 2015 spring membership reception, Art is a Verb—Let’s all do it, embraces the excitement and promise of greater cultural accessibility in the Lehigh Valley. On Tuesday, June 9, 2015, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council introduces the community-wide plans for the upcoming Arts & Access celebration, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act through the lens of the arts.We are pleased to announce that JohnKristel, MBA, MPT, President & CEO of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital is our host for our annual membership event. Join us for a reception at Good Shepherd’s Health & Technology Center and learn more about the number of participating cultural organizations andindividuals who have signed on toparticipate in Arts & Access. This annual get-together is a popular occasion for members to renew their connection to the arts and to each other.Three prominent cultural leaders and their respective organizations will be celebrated for their vision in expanding cultural accessibility: Jessica Bien, General Manager at Muhlenberg College Theater & Dance Department; Nora Suggs, Executive Director of Satori; and Ricardo Viera, Director/Curator of Lehigh University Galleries and Museums. “We chose to recognize these members in the arts community for their leadership in reaching out and accommodating people with various disabilities,” says Randall Forte, executive director. “Their commitment to greater inclusion is about being pro-active, not re-active—there is much we can learn from them!” Festivities will include the creation of a “Word Cloud“,” as arts professionals, patrons, and guests will collaborate in visualizing the future of the arts in our community. Members and their guests will also enjoy a tour of the Health & Technology Center. Generously underwritten by PPL, light food will be provided. Members attend for free; nonmembers pay $10. Reservations are encouraged so please call the Arts Council at 610-437-5915 or register online at http://www.LVArtsCouncil.org. Parking is available in the garage located at 850 South 5th St., Allentown. Access to the Health & Technology Center is via the third floor of the parking garage.

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About the Lehigh Valley Arts Council The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is the region’s central voice for the arts, promoting arts awareness and advocating its value while strengthening access to the arts for all citizens in our community. The Arts Council’s mission is to promote the arts; to encourage and support artists and their development; to assist arts organizations; and to facilitate communication and cooperation among artists, arts organizations, and the community. Services include arts research and advocacy, professional development seminars, publications, and cooperative regional marketing initiatives.

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Lehigh Valley Arts Council 840 Hamilton Street, Suite 201 Allentown, PA 18101 610-437-5915 / operations@LVArtsCouncil.org www.LVArtsCouncil.org / www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org

Fly Magazine Keep South Central Pennsylvania Up To Date On Entertainment, Dining and Nightlife

http://flymagazine.net/ is a great site to visit if you live in or visit Lancaster, York or Harrisburg.  Keeps you up to date on what’s going on, events, dining, music and arts and culture.  Happy Friday!

Lancaster Promotions Office Hiring Special Events Manager

Lancaster City is hiring a special-events manager for the Lancaster Office of Promotion.

LOOP, successor to the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, is creating the new position because of the office’s expanded role. The arts and entertainment events organization now promotes the city as a destination for the arts, shopping, cultural attractions, dining and special events.

The special-events manager will handle event and activity permitting and coordinate with community organizations, sponsors and city departments, according to the job description.

You can see the job description here: (We’ll cut to the chase: It pays between about $39,300 and $45,200.)

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-promotions-office-hiring-special-events-manager/article_0966030e-b07f-11e4-b179-579eb78f2bf6.html

Lehigh Valley Arts Council Announces Arts Alive 2015 Series

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is pleased to announce the new line-up for the Arts Alive 2015 Series. These three events for members and their friends allow participants to rub shoulders with the creative process and engage their minds and spirits.

On Saturday, February 7, 2015, “Curator’s Choice” introduces Elaine Mehalakes, the new vice president of community engagement at the Allentown Art Museum. Ms. Mehalakes will guide an informal discussion from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on works of art she has selected for their relevance to the collection and to the community. Ms. Mehalakes has extensive experience in curating and cataloguing; she previously worked at the Davis Museum and Cultural Center in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

“A Joyous Rehearsal” arrives with spring as guests are invited to attend a rehearsal of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem on Monday evening, April 20, 2015, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. Visitors will preview the power and joy of the 108th Bethlehem Bach Festival as Artistic Director Greg Funfgeld welcomes the group prior to rehearsal and speaks about how this century-old community chorus continues to remain relevant.

“Wood & Steel” is a tour of furniture designer and craftsman Bill Kreider’s studio on Saturday, June 20, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Inspired by unconventional and discarded items, often with historical context, Bill’s designs use contemporary lines to offset traditional materials. He has transformed garage door springs into a dining room table, a ship’s drive wheel into a coffee table, and perhaps most famously, Bethlehem Steel “I” beams into bookcases.

Come join Bill for a personal tour of his studio workspace, which is located in the old Pennsylvania Stage Company scene shop on 127 North Lumber Street in Allentown, and discover the artistry of turning industrial debris into true masterpieces.

Attendance is limited for these behind-the-scenes cultural tours to only twenty-five visitors at each event, so reserve your tickets soon at LVArtsBoxOffice.org. Light refreshments will be served at each event. Fees for each event are $15 for Arts Council members, $20 for nonmembers. Enjoy a special 33% discount if you buy tickets to all three events in the series (three tickets for the price of two).

Randall Forte, Executive Director
Lehigh Valley Arts Council
Phone: 610-437-5915.
Email: info@LVArtsCouncil.org
Web: www.lvartscouncil.org

ArtFusion Executive Director Wins Person Of The Year Award

Erika Hornburg-Cooper, ArtFusion 19464’s Executive Director and Co-Founder, was presented with the Pottstown Rotary Person of the Year Award on September 10, 2014. This is the sixth year for this particular award. Erika was honored for her commitment to Pottstown and for the great work ArtFusion has done in their 10 years to make the arts accessible to everyone in the community. In her remarks at the award ceremony, Erika thanked her family and the ArtFusion staff and board of directors for their support and credited them with having a large part in her receiving her award.

ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center located at 254 E. High St. in downtown Pottstown. The school offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence. ArtFusion’s gallery hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.  The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In more than 160 countries worldwide, approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 30,000 Rotary clubs.

The main objective of Rotary is service- in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.