Erie Arts and Culture: A Transformative Year

Anna Hartvigton

Executive director of Erie Arts and Culture Anne O'Dell fills us in on some of the changes the organization has made over the past year including an office move to the historic Cashier's House, the implementation of events like the Ethnic Food Market Tours, Creative Crowd networking events, and Working Artist 101 workshops, as well as continued individual support for artists in the Northwestern Pennsylvania region.

The past year has been transformative for Erie Arts and Culture (EAC). The EAC team finds the organization set on a renewed course of elevating, inspiring, and connecting artists and organizations throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Did you know EAC serves six counties in Northwestern Pennsylvania through its partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA)? Of 14 partners in Pennsylvania, EAC is the only one to partner with the Council for all three of its program areas: Arts in Education, Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts, and Folk and Traditional Arts. You can find out more about these programs and the grants and artist residencies they fund on EAC's new website.

When you visit the new website, you will find a refreshed brand and clarity in programming and resources that EAC provides, including grants for individual artists and arts organizations. You will also see an events calendar, featuring the upcoming Ethnic Food Market Tours, Creative Crowd networking events, and Working Artist 101 workshops.

In addition to a refreshed brand, I am excited to share that EAC now has an action-based strategic plan. Over the last year, the EAC team, board, and stakeholders contributed to this plan and the resulting document includes program, development, and marketing plans to increase our service levels and re-engage us with supporters and stakeholders.

The plan has three goals for the next three years: to sustain and enhance fiscal health and operations; to fulfill our role as Northwestern Pennsylvania's Arts Council; and to be a leader in state policy programs and initiatives.

Because of the PCA partnerships, EAC is regarded by people and organizations in Northwestern Pennsylvania as a leader in arts and culture. We will be fully stepping into that role while remaining firmly anchored in the Erie community.

Over the course of the next three years, the strategic plan calls for the creation of a full-time folk and traditional arts program officer position. Kelly Armor, our folk art director, has created a strong foundation for supporting living cultural heritage, and as she prepares to retire in the next five years, we are committed to honoring her legacy. The new position will continue Kelly's work done for the PCA Folk and Traditional Arts Partnership, as well as tell Erie's story through folk and humanities programs.

Is purchasing office space or a building to repurpose into a space that serves artists and the community feasible? What does a financially sustainable public art program that is manageable for EAC staff look like? How will EAC participate in public art? These are key questions we will explore in the coming years.

Many thanks to Strategy Solutions for their work on the plan.

I am pleased to share that EAC now has a finance policy that includes a donor bill of rights and ethical standards for how contributions are managed and used in support of EAC programs. This policy was a major initiative that was identified in this year's financial audit. I am pleased that this guiding document clearly articulates how finances are managed and maintained in the organization. It can be found on our new website.

I also want to thank the Sisters of St. Mary's School where EAC's offices have been located for several years, as well as the wonderful people who have been our neighbors in the building.

As EAC charted its next chapter, we found we needed a more accessible space where the community can easily enter our offices and meet with our team. EAC now has a new home in the Cashier's House on State Street. We have plans to use the second and third floors of the building for office space, as well as a welcoming space for people to meet with our team and access resources we provide.

While our new offices will welcome the community and keep us anchored in Erie, EAC's team will increase our presence in the six counties we serve. We will strengthen the networks of arts and culture organizations and artists that are an essential part of NWPA's vibrancy.

Erie Arts and Culture creates a future where the arts are the heartbeat of every community in Northwestern Pennsylvania. We serve as a beacon of cultural vibrancy and economic growth. As stewards of this vision, we support individuals and organizations in creating the vibrant lives, communities, and businesses they envision. Through our leadership, we catalyze change, foster inclusivity, and drive development, ensuring the arts continually reflect, enrich, and inspire our evolving region. We look forward to continuing the many partnerships that support us on this journey.

Erie Arts and Culture would love for you to donate to their continued efforts to support artists in our region on Erie Gives Day. You can donate on Aug.13 at eriegives.org/organizations/erie-arts-and-culture

Visit Erie Arts and Culture's new website at erieartsandculture.org

Anne O'Dell can be reached at anne@erieartsandculture.org