BETHLEHEM, Pa. — ArtsQuest, a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to enriching the community through arts and culture, announced it has reached approximately 80% of its fundraising goal for a new cultural center in Bethlehem.
Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2025, with completion expected in the latter half of 2026.
At a recent event, ArtsQuest CEO Kassie Hilgert expressed gratitude toward campaign co-chairs Gregg and Cindy Feinberg for their dedication to the project. “As we thought about this, there were no more perfect two people than Gregg and Cindy, who have been involved with Bethlehem, particularly South Bethlehem, and the entire Lehigh Valley for decades,” Hilgert said.
Gregg Feinberg highlighted the campaign’s progress despite setbacks. “ArtsQuest’s ‘Reimagine That’ capital campaign silent phase formally began in 2019,” he said. “We had a bit of a break due to COVID, but over the last several years, the team has been working to move the campaign’s four initiatives forward.”
The four initiatives include:
- A completely redesigned first floor of the ArtsQuest Center, enhancing food options and revenue (completed).
- A refurbished turn and grind shop on the SteelStacks campus.
- A robust endowment fund within the ArtsQuest Foundation that has raised over $8 million.
- The new Cultural Center that will expand arts education and community engagement.
“With this beautifully updated facility, ArtsQuest will increase the number of area youth served annually from 5,000 to 10,000 through free arts-based educational programs,” Feinberg said.
The Cultural Center will feature 11 classrooms—up from the current five at the Banana Factory—and increase subsidized artist studio space by 20%, from 30 to 36 studios.
Additional amenities include modernized gallery spaces, a designated sensory space, a 125-seat black box comedy theater, and the Air Products Market Maker Space.
ArtsQuest COO Curt Mosel emphasized the importance of community and corporate support. “The Lehigh Valley’s corporate community has always been a cornerstone of support for ArtsQuest’s mission,” Mosel said. “Your support is a testament to the belief that investing in the arts means investing in your community, a move that helps retain and attract talent while enhancing the quality of life here in the Valley.”
Richard Stringer, Executive Vice President of Consumer Experience & Merchandising Strategy at Crayola, highlighted the growing demand for creativity in the workforce. “And the one macro trend that continues to resonate globally is the power of creativity,” Stringer said. “In fact, the Economic World Forum, every other year, does a jobs report globally and ranks the most important skills employers are looking for over the next five years.
“And in this world of automation and big data and ChatGPT, do you know what the number one skill is that employers are looking for? It’s creativity. Creativity is born here, it lives here, and we are so thrilled that over the next few years, the Cultural Center will continue to inspire, educate, and bring together kids of all ages to understand the power of creativity.”
Longtime ArtsQuest volunteers and donors Cindy and Chuck Yeoman shared their excitement about the project. “When we were given the opportunity to help support the new volunteer center here at the cultural center, it was a no-brainer,” Chuck Yeoman said. “It was a yes, yes, yes.”
The event concluded with a heartfelt announcement from Michael and Michele Pessina, who are dedicating a classroom in memory of their late daughter, Angela René Pessina. “Michael and I are here tonight, as parents of Angela, to announce the Angela René Pessina classroom, which will be a part of the new Cultural Center,” Michele Pessina said. “While we miss her every day, we have been engaged with our community to make a positive impact in her memory.”
ArtsQuest assured attendees that its visual arts and education programs will continue during construction, thanks to community partners providing alternative spaces.
“Take a good look around; we won’t see this building for much longer,” Feinberg noted, emphasizing the transformative nature of the project.
For more information on ArtsQuest and its initiatives, visit www.artsquest.org.
