After six years of planning, it’s time to begin construction of the dynamic building that will offer arts and cultural programming year-round via its art cinema, Musikfest Café music venue and other great spaces.

The groundbreaking provided a little taste of how we’ll activate the site with music, arts and culture in the years to come. Among the guests at the ceremony were Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell and Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. They have been the major proponents of the SteelStacks project from the beginning, and we’re honored that they were present.

The first major public commitment to the project was made by Gov. Rendell in December 2006 through a $5 million commitment of Pennsylvania Revitalization Assistance Capital Program funding.  Additional allocations by both the Governor and legislative delegations have resulted in a total of $12 million in state funding being dedicated to two of the projects on the SteelStacks campus, one of which is the ArtsQuest Center for Performing Arts. Mayor Callahan has been behind the SteelStacks project since Day One, providing a variety of support and assistance.

After half a decade of planning and development, the ArtsQuest Center for Performing Arts at SteelStacks is about to become a reality. A lot of hard work has gone into the project up to this point, and there’s still much to be done over the next few years. There have been some ups and downs along the way, but one thing has been constant: outstanding support from the community.

The groundbreaking ceremony wasn’t the the start of a performing arts center built by ArtsQuest. Rather, we celebrated the birth of a dynamic, new arts and cultural venue for all of the people of the Lehigh Valley!

The opening of ArtsQuest’s Center for the Performing Arts at SteelStacks is set for the spring 2011, but the public is invited to get a sneak peek next week of the dynamic programming planned for SteelStacks!

On Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6-10 p.m., ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory will be transformed into the ArtsQuest Center for Performing Arts at SteelStacks. Breaking New Ground (BNG), a fund-raiser for the Banana Factory, will feature an eclectic mix of attractions and activities designed to highlight what visitors to SteelStacks will be able to expect.

At BNG, guests will be able to enjoy sights and sounds such as local rock band Post Junction performing an original soundtrack to “Car Wash” as the movie is projected onto the wall of the Banana Factory.  The Banana Factory’s Crayola Gallery will be set up as the Musikfest Café and feature dueling pianos and live music from Jimmy Meyers & Steve Brosky, while The Banko Family Room Gallery will showcase films and documentaries similar to those that will be shown in the performing arts center’s art cinema.

Other BNG highlights include a Creativity Commons area where guests can enjoy music by the Flamin’ Caucasians, play interactive video games in the “Pod Zone” and see the latest designs for the performing arts center. A preview of InVision, ArtsQuest’s new photography festival slated to premiere in November 2010, and a farmers market area are also planned.

BNG is a fund-raiser for the Banana Factory, so there will also be auctions featuring fine art and unique arts and cultural experiences. All proceeds from the auctions will go to support the Banana Factory’s arts and educational programs.

If you’re excited about SteelStacks, or you’re interested in supporting arts opportunities for children and the community, we invite you to attend Breaking New Ground.

For tickets and more information, visit www.artsquest.org/breakingnewground or call 610-332-1300.

This Saturday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m., ArtsQuest will launch a brand-new music series just for kids called KidTunes. The series, which takes place at the Banana Factory, will kick off with a performance by Uncle Rock (tickets $9), a talented guitarist whose musical career took an interesting turn when he became a stay-at-home dad.

During the course of his career, Uncle Rock, a.k.a. Robert Burke Warren, has rocked with RuPaul, written with Grammy winner Rosanne Cash and played the lead role in the musical, “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” in London. These days, however, he specializes in performing music that has kids dancing, clapping and cheering!

Uncle Rock’s journey into children’s music began after he took a teaching assistant’s job at his son’s preschool in upstate New York and decided he wanted to make music that both kids and their parents can relate to.  Since that time, he has released three highly-acclaimed kids’ CDs and earned critical acclaim from prestigious publications like The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and Cookie Magazine.

In addition to showcasing great children’s performers, the KidTunes series will give parents a glimpse of the dynamic family fun that will be featured regularly at ArtsQuest’s Performing Arts Center at SteelStacks. In fact, the KidTunes series is designed to be a core part of the children’s programming when the PAC opens in 2011.

If you’re unable to make it to the Uncle Rock show, don’t worry….KidTunes concerts will take place the second Saturday of every month. Upcoming performers include Princess Katie & Racer Steve on Oct. 10, Yosi & the Superdads on Nov. 14 and Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band on Dec. 12.  In addition to the music, children will also be able to create a cool craft at each event, thanks to the creative staff of ArtsQuest.

Music, art and family fun…it doesn’t get much better than that, whether you’re a kid or a parent!

For tickets and more information on KidTunes, please visit www.artsquest.org/kidtunes.

     One of the great things about summer is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that are available. While some people simply walk to their gardens to pick their greens for the evening’s dinner, others regularly visit one of the area’s farmers markets to purchase tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce and the like. This region is home to several farmers markets, from the historic Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market to smaller community markets in Easton, Emmaus, Bethlehem and other towns.

     Going on the hunt for fresh produce will be just one of the unique shopping experiences available at the markets planned for the SteelStacks campus. From April through October, SteelStacks will host three markets highlighting the culture of the region. The farmer’s market will showcase the best in Pennsylvania-grown produce and other farm-fresh products. In addition, an art and antiques market will feature vintage clothing, books, furniture and decorative arts perfect for adding that special touch to the home.

     SteelStacks will also be home to an artists market, where talented artisans from throughout the region will display and sell their work. The artists will be juried into the market, ensuring that only quality, handmade crafts and fine arts are featured. You’ll also be able to watch some of them hard at work, as they demonstrate how they create their beautiful works of art.  Whether you’re looking for that perfect painting for the living room wall, or you’re searching for country crafts to match the décor of your kitchen, you’ll find it at the artists market.

     Savoring the smells of freshly picked fruit, perusing aisles of gorgeous art on a stellar autumn day, shopping for antiques…the markets at SteelStacks will offer great opportunities to immerse yourself in delicious eats, art and the community. 

When construction of ArtsQuest’s Performing Arts Center at SteelStacks begins this fall, the foundation will be the first segment of the building that’s put into place. A thick, firm base of concrete will serve as the initial and underlying support for the building that will one day be home to everything from blues and rock concerts to film festivals, Gospel brunches and dance performances.

In many ways, SteelStacks is similar to a foundation. For example, the SteelStacks campus will serve as an anchor for arts and culture in the region for decades to come. Just as a foundation adds strength and stability to a structure, SteelStacks will provide a solid base for dynamic arts programming that will entertain, educate and engage audiences of all ages.

When it opens, the campus will offer programming more than 350 days a year while attracting people from near and far. Live musical concerts, farmers’ and artists’ markets, children’s programs, music and arts festivals, and a two-screen art cinema and just a few of the many attractions and activities visitors will be able to experience. 

In addition to the diverse programming presented by ArtsQuest, SteelStacks will benefit other area nonprofits such as Celtic Cultural Alliance, Hispanic American League of Artists, Pennsylvania Playhouse, Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pennsylvania Youth Theatre and the SouthSide Film Festival by presenting them with new avenues and opportunities for programs and collaboration. The end result will be additional opportunities for young people to learn and grow through the arts and additional opportunities for people to experience and enjoy dynamic shows and performances.

From an economic standpoint, SteelStacks’ programming will greatly enhance the impact that the arts have on the region. According to Americans for the Arts’ “Arts & Economic Prosperity III: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in the Lehigh Valley Region,” nonprofit arts and culture is a significant industry in this region, one that generates more than $169 million in economic activity annually (ArtsQuest has an estimated annual impact of more than $39 million). Through its year-round events and activities, as well as the new jobs it will generate, SteelStacks will strengthen and expand the arts’ reach in the region and beyond. The diverse offerings will attract new audiences not only to Bethlehem, but also other communities in the Lehigh Valley. The entire area will benefit, as guests eat, shop and stay overnight while they’re in town.

The groundbreaking for SteelStacks is approaching. You can learn more about all of the programming that’s planned for the campus by visiting www.steelstacks.org.  Please take a minute and let us know what you think about the festivals, events and activities that are in the works!

In just a few, short hours, downtown Bethlehem will come alive with a variety of sensational sounds as Musikfest kicks off its 10-day run of music, food and fun!

From tonight through Aug. 9, the city’s streets, parks and plazas will be filled with nonstop music by more than 300 performers on 14 different stages. Among the many acts slated to perform are The Commodores, Third Eye Blind, Chris Isaak & The Wallflowers, Puddle of Mudd, Yes & Asia, Rufus Wainwright, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Red Elvises, Leon Redbone and more. The festival will also showcase delicious food by more than 60 vendors, great children’s activities, fun arts & crafts and a closing-night fireworks display.

If you love the diversity of Musikfest, we think you’re really going to enjoy SteelStacks when it opens in 2011. The Musikfest Café will be a dynamic musical venue that’s open 360 days a year and showcases everything from live concerts in a variety of genres to Sunday jazz and Gospel brunches. The recently announced KidTunes music series will also make its home at the Café. The series gets underway at the Banana Factory this September and tickets for the first four acts will go on sale right after Musikfest ends. For more information on KidTunes, or to purchase tickets, visit www.artsquest.org/kidtunes.

The one thing that will really make the Musikfest Café special is its unique glass wall behind the stage that will offer concert-goers an awesome view of the Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces and the SteelStacks Town Square. If you want to learn more about SteelStacks and see the latest renderings for the Café and ArtsQuest’s Performing Arts Center, please visit www.steelstacks.org.

We hope you enjoy the music at this year’s Musikfest, and that it gets you jazzed about the great musical and family-style programming that will be available year-round when SteelStacks opens in spring 2011.

We’ll see you at the ’fest, and we’ll see you at SteelStacks!

As we move closer to the groundbreaking to SteelStacks, community interest in the project continues to grow. This evening at 6 p.m., the public will have the opportunity to learn more about the project during an informational meeting at ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory in Bethlehem.

ArtsQuest has received funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiative Program and other state and federal programs to assist in the redevelopment of two structures, the Turn and Grind Shop and the No. 8 Hammer Shop, at the former Bethlehem Steel. The meeting will inform residents and interested parties about the organization’s intentions with respect to the adaptive reuse of these structures and the possibility that one of the structures, the No. 8 Hammer Shop, is not conducive to adaptive reuse due to deterioration and extensive restoration costs.

While the hammer shop will need to be removed, the SteelStacks project is very much on target, with groundbreaking set for September. We are pleased to have a great partner in Spillman Farmer Architects, which has designed a dynamic performing arts center that has a glass window where people will be able to look out and observe the Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces.

This evening’s meeting will offer the community an opportunity to discuss the SteelStacks project in greater detail. ArtsQuest invites you to join us at the Banana Factory starting at 6 p.m.

When young people who were born and raised in the Lehigh Valley finish college and start applying for jobs, many look outside the region. Why do so many leave? If you asked them, a good percentage would probably say it’s because there are better or more employment opportunities in their field elsewhere. 

 
Another issue likely factoring into Pennsylvania having one of the highest rates of outward migration is that many individuals feel there just aren’t enough activities and events here that interest them. Due to a shortage of “interesting” jobs and leisure activities, recent graduates will often apply to and work for businesses in other, potentially more attractive locations.

SteelStacks aims to reverse this trend of outward migration by presenting diverse arts and cultural activities and events ranging from blues concerts and dance, to independent films and gallery exhibitions, thereby exciting young people about the arts and culture in their own backyard.

Communities are strengthened by art programs because they provide quality educational and recreational opportunities that intrigue, enlighten and entertain. We believe SteelStacks will not only attract college students, it will draw attendees from throughout the nation due to its varied arts, cultural and educational programming. This additional tourism will benefit Bethlehem and the entire Lehigh Valley by helping increase the demand for restaurants, shopping, hotels and public transportation.

SteelStacks will also help attract volunteers who are passionate about the arts. Research on the impact of volunteerism shows that volunteering is a great way for people to stay healthy and active - the more people participate, the more they feel attached to an event or a place. Thousands of volunteers over the past 25 years have helped bring success to ArtsQuest, and it’s our hope that the community will continue to show a strong commitment to the arts through SteelStacks.

Attracting our young people, drawing new audiences to the Lehigh Valley and engaging individuals through volunteerism are just a few of the ways SteelStacks will help draw people to the region and downtown Bethlehem. With some type of programming on the campus almost every day of the year, there will be something for everyone to experience and enjoy!

Since we are in the beginning of festival season here in the Lehigh Valley, it’s a great time to discuss what festivals bring to our community. In addition to the great music, food and fun, they also provide a significant economic impact to the valley. For example, Musikfest alone has a $39 million economic impact yearly.  

One thing people may not immediately recognize is how festivals also help with employment. Companies in the Lehigh Valley like to attract the best possible employees. We also have a community that supports the cultural arts and festivals, which plays a major role in attracting people to the area.

So what happens a few years from now, when SteelStacks is open? The Lehigh Valley will become known as one of the nation’s premier destinations for festivals.

Plans for several new festivals are already underway. They include:

• South Mountain Folk Festival - Held Memorial Day weekend, this event will feature folk artists from around the United States while celebrating a genre that has strong roots in the Lehigh Valley.

• Blast Furnace Blues Festival - On the July 4th weekend, Bethlehem will come alive with the heart-wrenching, soul-stirring sounds of the blues.

• River Jazz Festival - A variety of artists, styles and sounds will be showcased the third weekend of July.

• Steel Jam - Improvisational, free form music and dancing will be the order of the day as ArtsQuest presents jam bands from near and far on Labor Day Weekend!

• Furnace Fringe Festival - The Lehigh Valley’s entry into the world of fringe festivals.

• Lehigh Valley International Festival - This is an annual May event that will celebrate a different country each year and provide opportunities to learn more about the people and the culture of that country.

• Visions - An international photography festival that will capture images from around the world and bring them to the Lehigh Valley.

• Oktoberfest - Paying tribute to this area’s heritage, this festival will feature sounds and food & drink based on the traditions of Germany. It’s guaranteed to lift your spirits during the breezy month of October.

In addition to new events, several existing festivals will hold some or all of their activities at SteelStacks. Musikfest will present its RiverPlace main stage at SteelStacks’ Festival Plaza.  The Musikfest Café will also be open for performances during Musikfest, and at least one other Musikfest site will be located at SteelStacks.  Portions of Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem will also reside on the SteelStacks campus.

We’d like to know what you think about the new festivals.  Try to imagine what this community would be like if it wasn’t for Mayfair, Musikfest, Celtic Classic, South Side Film Festival, Harvest Festival, Christkindlmarkt and so many other cultural events.

As parents who love music, we would all like to pass that appreciation on to our kids. As parents in this fast-paced world, time with our children is often at a premium. Who doesn’t find it challenging to get time in with their kids that is dedicated to hanging out, being goofy and listening to music?

Beginning this fall, as a monthly Saturday morning series, ArtsQuest will present KidTunes, designed to bring parents together with their kids while sharing a great musical experience. The goal is to expose kids to many different genres of music - rock, jazz, folk - through shows by seasoned children’s performers. We’re excited to begin building this series at ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory so that it may transition into a permanent home at the Musikfest Cafe on a weekly basis once SteelStacks is up and running.

Other venues have had great success with this type of series, such as the
World Cafe Live’s Peanut Butter & Jams in Philadelphia and
Jammin Java in Virginia. We hope to replicate the concept while adding our own unique touch, delivering quality family programs on a regular basis to Lehigh Valley families.

I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning than taking in a live performance with my kids that turns them on to great diverse music and allows us a dedicated time to spend dancing up a storm and creating special moments.

The dates for this fall’s inaugural KidTunes Series are:

Saturday, September 12

Saturday, October 10

Saturday, November 14

Saturday, December 12

Check back in July for performer listings and more information.