artist-in-residence program

The Allentown Arts Commission is awarding $45,000 in grants to five recipients of the 2018 Artist-in-Residence Program. The program was established this year and is designed to artistically engage the community and create a bridge between the neighborhoods throughout the City of Allentown by fostering inclusiveness and celebrating diversity.

Two $4,500 grants have been awarded to Emerging Artists who are at the earliest stages of their career. Two $9,000 grants have been awarded to Established Artists as defined by those who have created an independent body of work or performed extensively on stage or screen. One $18,000 grant has been awarded to a Professional Artist who has reached an advanced level of achievement in their discipline.

Receiving one Emerging Artist grant is independent artist Pedro DeLee for his mural project to be installed at Union Terrace Elementary School during the fall. Also receiving a $4500 Emerging Artist grant is Puertorrican Cultural Preservation under the direction of Robert and Flor Velez for their Communal Drumming and Dancing workshop programs held at Alliance Hall, with performances throughout the city parks and events including the Puerto Rican Day Parade in July.

Receiving one Established Artist grant is Jill Odegaarde, professor at Cedar Crest College and 2017 Arts Ovation Visual Artist recipient, for her Images Make Stories project incorporating handmade papermaking and bookmaking for residents, students and refugees at locations including the Church of the Mediator, McKinley Elementary School, Art in the Park and Third Thursday events. The second Established Artist grant recipient is Chloe Cole Wilson for Project Silk presents OUT, a program for LGBTQ+ youth of color to create their own art and tell their stories through poetry and movement with weekly workshops and final performances at Valley Youth House and Project Silk.

The Professional Artist Grant of $18,000 has been awarded to world-renowned musician and educator Cliff Haltzman Tracy for his musical instrument program in Allentown elementary schools. The Flutophone project incorporates eight weeks of lessons for third graders in seven different Allentown School District elementary schools across the city before a community performance at each school for students, parents and teachers, capped off by a community-wide performance by participating students at a major upcoming civic event this fall. Students will leave the program with a new-found musical talent along with their own personal Flutophone and music instruction book.

In announcing the selection, Deborah Rabinsky, Director of Artistic Operations for CCA said, "We are honored to be selected to manage the Artist-in-Residence program for the Allentown Arts Commission beginning in 2018. We believe our experience with our first year Artist-in-Residence projects in the Upside Allentown neighborhoods uniquely qualifies the CCA to take on this responsibility to grow the involvement with artists across this great city."
The CCA's role will be to assist in the Artist Call process as well as month-by-month monitoring of the progress of the Artist-in-Residence program on behalf of the Arts Commission and the City of Allentown. The New Initiatives Committee of the Arts Commission will be responsible for the recommendation of the artists to the Arts Commission in early 2018.
The official announcement of the 2018 Artist Call will be forthcoming on or before January 1, 2018. Watch for details to be posted on the websites of the Cultural Coalition of Allentown and the Allentown Arts Commission.