Art for Community Progress Report

Posted on March 7, 2018 by The Dunmorean

Lackawanna County Arts and Culture Department and The Scranton Area Community Foundation jointly released Art for Community Progress, the report generated from a series of Art for Social Change round tables sponsored by the two organizations and conducted in 2016.

The report provides a series of recommendations that arose from the conversations of over 150 individuals, representing a variety of organizations. The goal of the series was to share ideas, discuss challenges, and offer resources to improve our community.

The four forums focused on the impact the arts have on various sectors of the community and explored opportunities for utilizing the arts to continue to enhance the quality of life in Lackawanna County.

Though many ideas were discussed, five key areas of focus emerged, which could have measurable impact on Lackawanna County’s future. They are:

Creation of an Arts and Culture Asset Map
Establishment of a Community Ambassadors Program
Development of a Cross Sector Collaborative to Design a Large Scale Community Project
Implementation of a Comprehensive Multi-sector Advisory Council focused on Equitable Transportation strategies
Design of Leadership and Capacity Building Programs for the Arts and Culture Community

Some actions have already taken place towards addressing some of these goals. The Scranton Area Community Foundation in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has implemented an Equitable Transportation Council comprised of over 80 regional participants with the goal of making transportation more accessible.

In addition, Lackawanna County has formed an ARTS Engage! Task Force aiming to expand arts and culture programming in County services and to develop a large scale community project. This group is also looking at working on creating an inventory of arts and culture opportunities and better ways to market events.

The full Art for Community Progress report can be downloaded for free on the website of the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

Festival of Trees to benefit Toys for Tots

Posted on December 7, 2016 by The Dunmorean

The annual Festival of Trees exhibit and Toys for Tots fundraiser will be held at the Marketplace at Steamtown in the former Abercrombie & Fitch space. The exhibit will open with a reception and fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 9, beginning at 5:30 pm. The trees will be on display through Jan. 9.

The Lackawanna County Arts and Culture Department is seeking non-profit organizations, businesses, churches and schools to participate in the event by sponsoring and decorating a tree. Participants must supply their own artificial tree. All funds raised will go directly to Toys for Tots.

In an attempt to celebrate Lackawanna County’s industrial history, the theme for this year is Steamtown Goes Steampunk! Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial, steam-powered machinery which has launched a whole visual style and philosophy. It blends the cutting edge with the past by juxtaposing modern technology with a Victorian aesthetic. Steampunk has roots in the Victorian era and the fantastic works of authors such as Jules Verne, who wrote Around the World in Eighty Days, The Steam House, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; and H.G. Wells, author of The Invisible Man and The Time Machine.

The cost to sponsor a tree is $50 for non-profits, schools and small businesses (50 or under employees) and $100 for corporations (over 50 employees).

To register a tree, send checks or money orders, made payable to Toys for Tots, along with contact information to Gerard Hetman, Festival of Trees, Lackawanna County Community Relations Department, 200 Adams Avenue, Sixth Floor, Scranton, PA 18503. To request a formal application, call The Arts and Culture Department at 570.963.6590, ext. Depending on space availability, the registration deadline is slated to close on Dec. 8. All trees must be set-up by Dec. 9.

Locals showcase April Showers art project

Posted on April 6, 2016 by The Dunmorean

showeres

Lackawanna County Commissioners and organizers of the April Showers art project displayed their colorful umbrella designs that were part of First Friday on April 1. The decorative artworks were used for an umbrella dance on the Linden Street side of the Courthouse.

Shown from left are: Justin Roach, Social Media Technology Specialist for Wayne Bank; Maureen Duffy of Duffy’s Accessories; Eli Tomlinson, Vice President of Information Technology for Wayne Bank; Matt Swartz, Community Office Manager for Wayne Bank; Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of the Lackawanna County Arts and Culture Department; Cristin Powers, Director of ScrantonMade; Janine Baux, Ballet Theatre of Scranton; Lackawanna County Commissioner Patrick M. O’Malley; Samantha Nardelli, Shantytown Design; and Lackawanna County Commissioner Jerry Notarianni.