Photo Credit Jeff Auger<\/p>\n
Amid economic challenges, the nonprofit ArtsQuest hosted a successful Musikfest.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014\u00a0Musikfest<\/a>, which kicked off on Aug. 5 with a sold-out crowd on preview night, came together in record time this year thanks to the flexibility of artists, the need from local businesses and a strong partnership with the city of Bethlehem.<\/p>\n \u201cMore people than ever stopped me during Musikfest and said, \u2018we needed this,\u2019\u201d ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert said. \u201cA few months ago, we did not even know if we would be able to have Musikfest. To see it all come together has been incredible. None of this would be possible without the hard work of our team, hundreds of dedicated volunteers, sponsors, members and local businesses and community leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n This year\u2019s festival featured approximately 500 free performances from more than 300 musical artists, providing paying gigs for musicians after a challenging year and a half in the industry. Highlights of this year\u2019s \u2018fest included headlining acts Darius Rucker, Zedd, Sam Hunt, Shinedown, Phillip Phillips, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Jimmie Allen, Colin Hay Band, The Wood Brothers, Black Violin, Hector Tricoche and Michael Stuart. Overall, an estimated 1,127,000 people attended the festival.<\/p>\n Musikfest also featured 150 corporate sponsors, more than two dozen artisans\/retailers and more than 30 food vendors. In addition to the slew of new food vendors, fest goers also enjoyed delicious dishes from the new\u00a0Palette & Pour<\/a>\u00a0restaurant on the first floor of the ArtsQuest Center. For the first time in Musikfest\u2019s nearly 40-year history, food and beverage tickets were no longer needed and credit\/debit cards were accepted throughout festival grounds.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were happy to be part of Musikfest this year,\u201d Brynn Levine, Marketing Manager at Historic Hotel Bethlehem said. \u201cThis is probably the best Musikfest we could have expected in 2021. It was great to see the community come together and to see everyone coming downtown for the occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2021, Musikfest also introduced\u00a0The Inclusion Zone<\/a>, a sensory-supportive space that provided services, tools and amenities to benefit individuals with sensory-processing difficulties of all ages and abilities. Alongside regular programming, in honor of those impacted by COVID-19, ArtsQuest and New Bethany Ministries joined forces to present\u00a0Poppies of Remembrance, Lanterns of Hope<\/a>. Artists were asked to #PauseTheMusik and red lanterns illuminated in honor of those we lost, those still struggling and those fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic. Proceeds benefited both organizations.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s original\u00a0Musikfest poster painting<\/a>, created by Pennsylvania artist Mandy Martin, was auctioned off and all proceeds will benefit The Fund for Racial Justice and Equity (FRJE) powered by the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n Musikfest is made possible thanks to the support of the city, the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, Bethlehem Area School District, Northampton County, Lehigh County the support of the corporate community and more than 1,000 volunteers and 2,000 supporting members.<\/p>\n \u201cMusikfest is a tradition unlike any other and we are proud to partner with ArtsQuest year after year,\u201d Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez said. \u201cIt is an honor to see our community come together once again to support small business, tourism and economic development.\u201d<\/p>\n The next Musikfest is set for Aug. 5 \u2013 14, 2022. Visit\u00a0musikfest.org<\/a>\u00a0for more information. Aside from Musikfest, ArtsQuest provides countless opportunities for the community to enjoy, year-round, including different musical, artistic, cultural and educational experiences on its campus at the\u00a0SteelStacks<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Banana Factory<\/a>. To ensure the future of ArtsQuest, visit\u00a0artsquest.org\/donate<\/a>.<\/p>\n About ArtQuest<\/strong> Through festivals such as its flagship event,\u00a0Musikfest<\/a>; the\u00a0Banana Factory Arts Center<\/a>; and the ArtsQuest Center at\u00a0SteelStacks<\/a>\u00a0arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest\u2019s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization\u2019s programs and events, approximately 50 percent of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region. ArtsQuest is a proud member of NIVA, the\u00a0National Independent Venue Association<\/a>\u00a0and NATO, the\u00a0National Association of Theatre Owners.<\/a><\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Photo Credit Jeff Auger Amid economic challenges, the nonprofit ArtsQuest hosted a successful Musikfest. BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014\u00a0Musikfest, which kicked off on Aug. 5 with a sold-out crowd on preview night, … Continue reading MUSIKFEST RETURNS BOOSTING LEHIGH VALLEY ECONOMY, COMMUNITY<\/span>
\nArtsQuest\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest\u2122 supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events.<\/p>\n
\nNicole Harrell
\nArtsQuest Director of Communications
\nhttp:\/\/www.artsquest.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n
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