ArtsQuest partners with the PCA and ABE Airport to introduce art to the community with residency program artist Matt Halm

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA., August 15, 2024 – ArtsQuest’s, Arts in Education partnership through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) and Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), is excited to announce a continuation of the community mural project with rostered teaching artist and muralist Matt Halm, along with students from a one-week “Public Art Intensive” session held at the Banana Factory summer camp program.

Halm’s instruction encourages students (ages 10-12) to learn more about public art and the role it plays in the community. Not only does public art encourage imagination, but it also stimulates learning and critical thinking about art and society. Students and their families will participate in the one-day event on Friday, August 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Allentown, specifically at the pedestrian tunnel entrance in the lower level (near the short-term parking lot).

“We are thrilled to, once again, partner with PCA and ABE on this community mural,” says Lisa Harms, ArtsQuest Senior Director of Visual Arts and Education. “The campers, who have spent the week learning about public art, will be Matt’s ‘helping hands’ in facilitating the mural. The way Matt takes inspiration from the ABE team and works with the students to create a project of this nature, one that takes art from the classroom and  incorporates it into the community, is a beautiful demonstration of our mission to expand art education throughout our community.”

“Before completion of the first mural last Fall, the Airport and ArtsQuest had already started building a vision for the opposing wall which remained a blank canvas,” commented Thomas R. Stoudt, Executive Director, Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority. “We’re excited to welcome muralist Matt Halm and his students back to ABE to continue this amazing transformation of our passenger access tunnel through a creative blend of art and aviation.”

Media are encouraged to attend Friday’s event. Please arrive at 10 a.m.

Parking will be allowed in the short-term parking lot at the airport.

About ArtsQuest

ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which over 50% are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.

Information provided to TVL by:
Bryn Keeney