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Prism



FEB 2

Pennsylvania’s festivals offer more than just fun

Annual festivals have the power to become part of a place’s fabric, to boost the local economy, and to proselytize for an area’s innate charms. To spotlight these impacts and the continued role of arts and culture in community development, we zero in on two festivals in particular: Musikfest in Bethlehem and the Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous in Ridgway.

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NOV 13

Chester cultivates its creative heart

This small city in southeastern Pennsylvania is home to an arts and culture district created by and for locals. In this episode, we talk with two Chester natives who have worked hard to make this dream a reality.

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OCT 17

Prism season two is POPing off in Pittsburgh (Ep. 7)

In our first episode of season two, we’re heading west to Pittsburgh where The Andy Warhol Museum is expanding its mission and its footprint. The treasured cultural institution is spearheading the POP District, an initiative that encompasses everything from a live music venue and co-working spaces, to workforce development programs and public art. To talk about the challenges and the incredible promise of this effort, we’re joined by Dan Law, associate director of The Warhol, and Mikael Owunna, a local professional artist.

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NOV 28

Prism Episode 6: The film biz and the live event industry light up PA

Pennsylvania’s film industry employs almost 10,000 people and is a growing economic engine. But that does not happen on its own. People need to be trained for these careers and they need to know that well-paying jobs in these dynamic fields exist close to home. Taking center stage to discuss these issues are Rachel Hales from Rock Lititz and Dawn Keezer from the Pittsburgh Film Office. Both women have built careers in film and event production, and are helping bring the next generation aboard.

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SEP 29

Prism Episode 5: Pennsylvania’s industrial heritage inspires its creative future

PA once boasted one of the most powerful industrial economies in the world. Steel, textiles, glass, cars, matchbooks — all were made right here in the Commonwealth in large factories that anchored small towns and big cities alike. As we all know, during the 20th century, things changed. Manufacturing moved elsewhere. Mills closed. But many of those buildings are still here. Erected by craftspeople using materials that are made to last, the state’s industrial infrastructure is an essential part of its legacy, but also its future.

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JULY 18

Prism Episode 4: Planting the seeds for the arts to flourish

In this episode, we’re talking about cultivating the fertile ground for a creative community to grow. Troops of community development professionals, government officials, grant writers, city planners, and engaged citizens are putting in the work across the state, helping nurture their local art scenes. They do this not just because they believe it improves quality of life and beautifies the built environment, but because a thriving creative sector creates jobs, boosts the economy, and brings energy back to downtowns.

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MARCH 2

Prism Episode 1: “Nobody crowds you and nobody goes it alone”

In our first episode of Prism, we spoke with Hannah Harley of Indiana, PA and Erin Ninehouser of Ambridge, PA in Beaver County, western Pennsylvania. These two women have committed themselves to creative pursuits outside of resource-rich and art-dense cities, and they’re happier and more fulfilled for it. The lesson is clear: In a small place, you can have a huge impact.

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