The Value of Volunteerism

April is National Volunteer Month, and like many non-profits, The Lehigh Valley Arts Council could not do all that it does without our dedicated volunteers.  We value all of our volunteers and have a profile of two long-time volunteers, who we hope will inspire you to volunteer in 2021. Kelly and Mike Guttman have been…

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Planning Underway for 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council and the Lehigh Valley Partnership for a Disability Friendly Community are teaming up to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act through the lens of the arts.They are developing training opportunities for community volunteers and arts administrators, and offering support to designated cultural and arts programs that…

Simple Solutions for Website Accessibility

By James Ravelle, Operations Manager – Lehigh Valley Arts Council One of my responsibilities at the Lehigh Valley Arts Council is designing and programming our website. After the launch of our Pennsylvania Arts Accessibility Program (PAAP), I realized that there were several website content and graphic issues that needed to be addressed if the Arts…

Access Makes the Arts Grow Wider | Expanding Gateways

by Randall Forte, executive director, Lehigh Valley Arts Council This article appeared in The Express-Times newspaper on March 4, 2013. The arts have never been more important to the Lehigh Valley. Hundreds of creative industries, nonprofit cultural organizations, and thousands of individual artists of all disciplines—dance, musical, theatrical, visual, literary and media arts—are invested in…

The Arts Encourage Civic Engagement–Please Vote!

by Randall Forte, LV Arts Council executive director Why are there always millions of dollars spent on elections but never enough money to govern? Candidates will spend more than $2 billion on this election while they are screaming about a $10 trillion national debt. Has our democracy, “this great experiment,” been reduced to who has…

Why Public Funding for the Arts? It’s Life Changing.

Guest Post by Arts Council member, Jennifer Scavuzzo Just yesterday I heard a radio program discussing how to combat the high level of dropouts from our high schools, and one student who was featured discussed how "bored" he is with school.  Given the opportunity to see what a better high school could offer (while still…

Advocate for Lehigh County Funding to Maintain Local Quality of LIfe

by Randall Forte, LVAC executive director This article appeared in The Morning Call newspaper's Town Square section on September 22, 2012. The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners is preparing to vote on the 2013 budget. The 2013 quality of life grants, which fund many Lehigh County arts and cultural nonprofits, are in jeopardy of elimination.…