Funds will go towards New Cultural Center

BETHLEHEM, PA – ArtsQuest announced that it has received $3.5 million from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to go towards the development of a new Cultural Center, thanks to the support of Governor Tom Wolfe, Senator Lisa M. Boscola, Senator Pat Browne, Rep. Steve Samuelson, Mayor Bob Donchez and the City of Bethlehem.

The announcement was part of a $445 million initiative, approved on Wednesday, to go towards redevelopment projects all across the Commonwealth, including nearly $20 million for projects in Lehigh and Northampton Counties alone.

“We are doing everything we can to survive this pandemic thanks to the help of our sponsors, donors, members and volunteers, but this grant is a great vote of confidence in the viability and need for a new Cultural Center,” said ArtsQuest CEO Kassie Hilgert. “While our main focus is getting through this right now, these funds will help us pick up the fundraising efforts for a project that will benefit the entire region once we can all gather safely again.”

Part of ArtsQuest’s Capital Campaign is replacing the Banana Factory Arts Center with an expansive community Cultural Center featuring several exciting assets for the region to utilize, including a 125-seat black box theater specializing in comedy shows, 2D and 3D artist maker spaces and an over 120 percent increase in resident artist studio space. These funds will specifically support the construction of the new space in the parking lot next to the Banana Factory, which is the second phase of the planned construction project.

Information provided to TVL by:
Gabriela L. Laracca, ArtsQuest
Public Relations Coordinator
http://www.artsquest.org/

 

---