A new nonprofit aims to boost the arts scene in Armstrong County.
The Armstrong County Arts Council formed in May and held its first meeting in June.
The organization is dedicated to advancing the arts in Armstrong County, and its leaders are hoping to recruit more artists from the county and beyond to get involved.
Donna Weckerly is a founder serves as its executive director.
Committee volunteers are working to identify ways to connect artists with upcoming events and other opportunities this summer and fall.
Organizers hope to host events such as community mural projects, art exhibits, quilt shows and dedication ceremonies.
Weckerly, a professional photographer, retired from the steel mill industry after 28 years and worked with the Armstrong Welcome Center in Kittanning to get the nonprofit up and running.
“Our goal is to foster the arts in Armstrong County, and all artists are welcome. It’s about building up this area with art,” she said. “We want to help our artists to grow their art businesses, and it’s about building the economy with art to see what we have going on. It will help the artists economically, socially and culturally.”
Robin Lemmon of Applewold serves as a volunteer on the artist directory committee.
Lemmon, 72, a painter, owns an art business in Kittanning. She specializes in watercolor, acrylic and oil florals.
“We need to get it out to the public: Any artist that wants to get involved, please, contact us,” said Lemmon, who retired after 30 years of teaching art in the Armstrong School District.
More than 25 volunteers have offered to serve on two other committees: community asset mapping and marketing.
“This is for all artists in Armstrong County to help with art economic growth. It’s such a beautiful area where we live — along the river. We’ve always needed a vehicle to bring people from the Pittsburgh suburbs to Armstrong to buy local art,” Lemmon said.
Weckerly is hopeful more artists attend the next meeting and get involved in promoting the arts in the county.
“Together, this information will connect artists of all genres with event venues, business opportunities and education resources,” Weckerly said.
Courtesy of Donna Weckerly
Thefirst meeting of the nonprofit Armstrong County Arts Council was held in June at the Experience Armstrong Welcome Center in downtown Kittanning.
About 40 artists attended the arts council’s first meeting.
The next public art initiative discussion and committee meeting is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday , July 11, at Mystic Beauty Spiritual Wellness Studio in Ford City.
Area businesses take turns hosting meetings, which also are offered via Zoom.
Each artist is invited to bring one of their pieces for a show-and-tell.
“What started out as a way to identify the needs of the creative community and the economic opportunities in Armstrong County quickly became something so much bigger,” said Cheyenne Filous, former director of Experience Armstrong Inc. “Within months, we went from a spark of an idea to a robust group of community volunteers who recognized the value of an arts and culture presence in our rural region.”
A rotating art exhibit, dubbed the Summer Artist Series, is the nonprofit’s first initiative.
Lemmon’s art was exhibited throughout June at A Mano Eatery in Kittanning. Weckerly’s work is on display there in July. An artist for August has yet to be determined.
To join the Armstrong County Arts Council, contact Weckerly at 724-664-3976 or email armstrongcountyartscouncil@gmail.com.
Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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New art-focused nonprofit in Armstrong County seeks recruits - TribLIVE
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