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Featured Image: A rendering of the re-imagined Turn & Grind Shop courtesy of abSketches.
BETHLEHEM, PA—The public-private partnership that’s helping to transform the 150-year-old Bethlehem Steel Turn & Grind Shop into a dynamic multi-use facility at SteelStacks has taken another step forward with the Keystone Savings Foundation awarding ArtsQuest a $100,000 grant to support construction and educational programming at the building.
Once an important part of the steelmaking process at Bethlehem Steel Corp., the old Turn & Grind Shop will be developed into a new programming facility, exhibit and festival venue. The new building will include a 14,000-square-foot public programming space featuring nationally touring education programs, science and arts-related exhibits, as well as theater and dance performances. The Turn & Grind Shop will also be featured prominently in SteelStacks’ annual festivals like Oktoberfest, serving as a Festhalle offering beverages from around the globe, and Christkindlmarkt, providing space for additional artisans and entertainment. In addition, it will host community dinners, corporate events and serve as a multi-use rental space, all of which will combine to help ArtsQuest fulfill and support its mission.
The Turn & Grind Shop redevelopment was officially announced Dec. 12. ArtsQuest is in the early stages of developing plans for the building and no construction date has been established.
“The Keystone Savings Foundation has a rich history of supporting local nonprofits that are committed to enhancing the quality of life in our region,” says ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert. “Their early support of the Turn & Grind Shop highlights their belief in the impact this new building and its programming will have on our students, our residents and economic development in the area, while also helping to set the stage for others who are considering investing in this innovative redevelopment project. ArtsQuest greatly appreciates this important grant from Keystone Savings Foundation, which allows us to continue moving forward with plans to redevelop the Turn & Grind Shop for the community.”
The $100,000 grant for the Turn & Grind Shop is the second grant the Keystone Savings Foundation has awarded to ArtsQuest for its Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign. In December 2018, the foundation presented ArtsQuest with a $100,000 grant to support the new ArtsQuest Cultural Center to be constructed at the site of the Banana Factory.
The Keystone Savings Foundation was established to serve the needs of the Lehigh Valley community, supporting programs regarding housing assistance, local education, nonprofit medical facilities, nonprofit community groups and similar organizations throughout the region. The foundation awards grants that support Education, Health and Human Services, Culture and Arts, Civic and Community Development, and Economic Development.
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest is a Bethlehem-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, festivals, cultural experiences, and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization, and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center and SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, approximately 40 percent of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $138 million annually in the region.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
