{"id":101080,"date":"2020-05-28T21:31:22","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T01:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=101080"},"modified":"2020-05-28T21:31:22","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T01:31:22","slug":"the-art-of-encouragement-allentown-arts-commission-seeks-innovative-artists-for-encouraging-public-art-projects-with-a-60000-grant-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=101080","title":{"rendered":"THE ART OF ENCOURAGEMENT. Allentown Arts Commission Seeks Innovative Artists for Encouraging Public Art Projects with a $60,000 Grant Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>The new program will award $1,000-$3,000 stipends to artists struggling through loss of work during coronavirus outbreak by awarding grants for \u201cprojects of encouragement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Allentown, PA \u2013 May 28, 2020\u00a0 <\/strong>Following unprecedented job loss due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Allentown Arts Commission chair,<br \/>\nJane Heft announced today a new program which would provide small grants to artists living or working in the City of Allentown. This new project-based program has earmarked $60,000 for the effort.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cArt of Encouragement Project\u201d will provide stipends of up to $3,000 for artists to create encouraging and uplifting public art and messages to be placed on display throughout the City.<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Ray O\u2019Connell said, \u201cAllentown is home to many extremely talented artists.\u00a0 It is important that we encourage the growth of arts in the community and offer support.\u00a0 These grants are our own little stimulus in these most unusual times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe arts community is integral to the fabric of Allentown,\u201d Leonard Lightner, Director of Allentown\u2019s Community &amp; Economic Development Department said, \u201cThese individuals contribute to the City\u2019s vibrant arts and culture, which is temporarily at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have already seen the tremendous financial effects of the COVID-19 health crisis,\u201d Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne said. \u201cNo one is immune from the negative impact it has had on jobs, businesses and our economy, including artists. As Co-Chair of the Arts and Culture Caucus, I am pleased to support this great initiative that not only provides financial support to help artists through these challenging times but also allows them to create messages of hope and encouragement throughout the city of Allentown as the community begins to safely reopen and return to routine activities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Under the new program, artists, artisans, and arts production staff throughout the City can apply for the grants. To apply for an Art of Encouragement grant, visit the Allentown Arts Commission website at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allentownpa.gov\/Government\/Authorities-Boards-Commissions\/Allentown-Arts-Commission\">AllentownPA.gov\/ARTS<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.building.allentownarts.com\/\">AllentownARTS.com<\/a>. Applications will be accepted, reviewed, and funds will be distributed on a rolling basis June\u2013October 2020.<\/p>\n<p><strong>About the Allentown Arts Commission<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We support the Arts + Artists in Allentown. As the agency that champions the arts, we believe that a creative cultural environment is essential to the city\u2019s well-being and we strive to integrate the arts into all aspects of city life. The Allentown Arts Commission supports the City by advocating for innovative arts policy, creating access for equitable participation in the arts, enlivening the urban environment, and fostering &amp; enriching arts engagement for all residents.<\/p>\n<p>For more information, contact <a href=\"mailto:info@AllentownARTS.com\">info@AllentownARTS.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Information provided to TVL behalf of the Allentown Arts Commission by:<br \/>\nMike Moore<br \/>\nCommunications Manager<br \/>\nMayor&#8217;s Office<br \/>\n435 Hamilton Street<br \/>\nAllentown, PA 18101<br \/>\nMike.Moore@allentownpa.gov<br \/>\nhttp:\/\/www.AllentownPA.gov<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><code class=\"code\">-AMAZONPOLLY-ONLYWORDS-START-<\/code><br \/>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner3023'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/' target=\"_blank\" data-id='3023' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner7036'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com' target=\"_blank\" data-id='7036' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n<code class=\"code\">-AMAZONPOLLY-ONLYWORDS-END-<\/code><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?post_type=adverts_posts&p=7036\" class=\"read-more\">Click here to read more... <\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":101081,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5716,69,482],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allentown","category-in-the-valley","category-press-release-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/allentown-arts.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101080"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=101080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/101081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=101080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=101080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=101080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}