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Allentown, Pa. – In celebration of the enduring value of childhood creativity, a community exhibition at the Allentown Art Museum is showcasing children’s art, some of it collected more than 40 years ago from across the country, including works from our region.
Titled Dream Makers: A Creative Legacy, the exhibition includes more than 50 vintage paintings, collages, and mixed-media artworks curated from Crayola’s vast archives, home to what was one of the largest collections of children’s art in the country. Crayola is sharing the artworks as part of its Campaign for Creativity that is elevating the conversation about the value of childhood creativity to help kids reach their full potential and encouraging adults to nurture that creativity in everyday activities.
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Dream Makers: A Creative Legacy will be on display in the Museum during Crayola Creativity Week, a week-long virtual event that provides parents and educators around the globe with resources to nurture creativity in children. Creativity Week runs from January 27 through February 2, 2025, and was recently designated by the National Day Calendar as Global Crayola Creativity Week, to be formally recognized and celebrated the last full week in January. This year, more than 11 million students across six continents will come together to celebrate their creativity alongside partnering artists, authors, musicians, and athletes. During Creativity Week the Museum will be offering guided hands-on art making Thursday, January 30, through Sunday, February 2, 11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. in its Crayola Classroom.
The Dream Makers exhibition continues at the Art Museum through Sunday, March 2, with a closing reception on March 1. The Museum is located at 31 North Fifth Street in Allentown. Admission is free, with free parking in the Museum’s lot. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with extended hours on Third Thursdays until 8 p.m.
In 1984, Crayola worked with teachers across the country to inspire and celebrate children’s artwork through a program known as Dream Makers. A year later, the first Dream Makers exhibition debuted at the Allentown Art Museum. The nationwide initiative continued for 25 years with artwork displayed in museums, galleries, and office buildings across the country.
“The Allentown Art Museum is incredibly proud to celebrate more than 40 years of partnership with Crayola, a collaboration that has been integral to our mission of inspiring creativity and fostering a love for the arts within our community,” says Abby Simmons, the Museum’s Director of Education and Public Engagement. “Every weekend, our Crayola Classroom comes alive with children and families exploring and creating together using Crayola’s art supplies. This important partnership allows us to offer accessible, hands-on art making opportunities that bring joy and enrichment to thousands of visitors each year. We deeply value Crayola’s generous support and shared vision for fostering creativity and making art an essential and inclusive part of life. We look forward to continuing to grow this partnership and expanding the transformative power of the arts for generations to come.”
“It’s been wonderful to work so closely with artworks by children,” says the Museum’s Manager of Arts Engagement, Rei Ukon, who curated the exhibition. “This exhibition reminds us of the importance of fostering creativity in children and continuing this practice in adulthood.”
“Creativity is a life skill that helps children become future-ready, preparing them to adapt and navigate life more successfully. Whether the creative experience comes to life through music, art, theater, creating, building, or sports, children develop critical skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, self- expression, resilience, and confidence,” says Victoria Lozano, Executive Vice President, Crayola Brand Marketing. “We’re excited to once again be sparking imaginations and inspiring self-expression with the Museum, which has been a long-time, valuable partner in celebrating creativity. This exhibition aligns with Crayola’s Campaign for Creativity, transporting adults back to childhood, reminding them of the creative moments that impacted their life, and inspiring them to nurture their own children’s creativity.”
ABOUT THE ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM
The Allentown Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to use the arts and culture as a catalyst to drive interaction, experimentation, and social change for everyone. By collecting, preserving, studying, exhibiting, interpreting, and teaching visual art, the Museum enlightens, engages, energizes, and empowers people—transforming the community one person and one idea at a time. For more information please visit AllentownArtMuseum.org.
ABOUT CRAYOLA
Crayola LLC, based in Easton, Pa., a business of Hallmark Cards, Inc., is the worldwide leader in children’s creative expression products. Known for the iconic Crayola Crayon first introduced in 1903, the Crayola brand has grown into a vast portfolio of art tools, crafting activities and creativity toys that offer children of all ages innovative ways to use color to create everything imaginable. From engaging
products and content to location-based experiences, Crayola inspires creativity in everyone. Learn more at www.crayola.com.
Information provided to TVL by:
Chris Potash