Allentown, Pa., November 27, 2023— The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) announced the recipients of the 2023-24 Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF) grants, a new initiative aimed at bolstering the region’s vibrant arts and culture scene. This year, twenty-one nonprofit arts and culture organizations in the Lehigh Valley have been selected to receive grants of $5,000 each, thanks to the collaborative effort between LVCF and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA).
The CSFF is an innovative grant program introduced by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for the 2023-2024 grant year. Specifically designed to address the evolving needs of dynamic arts organizations and/or programs in Pennsylvania with average annual revenues ranging from $10,000 to $200,000, this initiative is a testament to the commitment to nurturing the arts and creative sector at the state level.
“The arts play a vital role in fostering cultural richness, promoting community engagement, and stimulating economic growth, making them an essential component of a thriving and vibrant community,” said Monique Saunders Moreno, Assistant Director of Community Investments at LVCF, who manages the arts programs. “I want to thank all those who submitted applications for the Creative Sector Flex Fund. It was a challenge to select from the many strong proposals. We also thank the members of our review community whose expertise and experience resulted in robust discussions and evaluations. This funding is critical, and it’s clear that much more is needed to support the arts, culture, and creative economy in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.”
One of the distinguishing features of the CSFF is the flexibility it offers to grant recipients. The $5,000 grants can be used in various ways to maximize their impact on organizations and communities, including administrative support, programmatic enhancements, and project-related expenses. This flexibility ensures that the funds serve the unique needs and goals of each recipient.
The grant recipients of the 2023-24 Creative Sector Flex Fund are as follows:
• The Camerata Singers
• Lehigh Valley Girls Rock
• Repertory Dance Theatre
• Karl Stirner Arts Trail Inc
• SouthSide Film Institute
• CEC of Organization of the Rebirth of Ukraine
• Lehigh Valley Chorale
• Pocono Concert Chorale
• The Allentown Band
• Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission
• Mock Turtle Marionette Theater
• Alternative Gallery
• Bloom for Women
• Young People’s Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley
• Movement Moves Media
• Bach and Handel Chorale Inc
• Godfrey Daniels
• SATORI
• Chamber Music Lehigh Valley
• National Scenic Visitors Center
• Appalachian Fiddle & Blue Grass Association
LVCF, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts through the Partners in the Arts program, plays a vital role in distributing grant awards for projects or programs involving artists throughout Region 5, which includes Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh, and Northampton counties. This collaborative program extends the reach of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, enabling a broader audience to access funds, thereby increasing statewide exposure to enriching arts activities.
These grants are supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency, through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), its regional arts funding Partnership. State government funding comes through an annual appropriation by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. PPA is administered in this region by the state’s PPA Partner (Lehigh Valley Community Foundation for Region 5].
For more information about the Creative Sector Flex Fund and LVCF’s commitment to supporting the arts, please visit: Creative Sector Flex Fund – Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (lehighvalleyfoundation.org)
About Lehigh Valley Community Foundation
The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation is a philanthropic hub serving the Lehigh and Northampton counties, dedicated to improving the quality of life in the region by connecting donors with the causes they care about most. With a mission to promote philanthropy, collaboration, and leadership, LVCF strives to make the Lehigh Valley a thriving community for all.
About Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is an agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that provides grants and support to a diverse array of arts and culture organizations, nurturing the creative spirit of Pennsylvania’s citizens and communities. The PCA’s mission is to strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of Pennsylvania through the arts.
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