About LVACA

LVACA is an organization deeply embedded in the community that believes in the power of art to transform, heal, and unify.  As a voice for cultural understanding, diversity, and the integration of the arts into all facets of life, we are a network, resource, and advocate for those creating, attending, and supporting the arts throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Who We Are

The mission of LVACA is to engage all citizens in the Lehigh Valley, intentionally securing the participation of all abilities, regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive limitation, both as audience members and/or providers in the dance, theatrical, musical, visual, literary, or media arts. 

The Lehigh Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance (LVACA) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that serves the array of artists and arts organizations integral to the life and vitality of our community. 

The result of a merger between the Lehigh Valley Arts Council and the Cultural Coalition of Allentown, LVACA’s mission is to advocate, support, and build capacity for artists and arts organizations in the region: a newly-reimagined, unifying voice created to strategically address the challenges and future of the arts.

Unifying & Uniting Arts Organizations

lvaca merger inforgraphic

By integrating the resources of Lehigh Valley Arts Council and the Cultural Coalition of Allentown, Lehigh Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance presents an even more financially sustainable and administratively sound organization, ready to meet the challenges of the future and ensure our continued excellence in arts advocacy.

The merger has already enabled us to expand our state and federal funding, seek foundation support that has not been available previously, and reverse the negative trend in memberships caused by the COVID crisis. We have begun to solidify our new staff while investing in recruitment, training, and professional development that will enable us to expand our program offerings. A renewed and robust fundraising strategy led by a community-based advisory committee addresses sustainability through efforts directed at individual and corporate philanthropy, expansion of our membership program, and the development of program sponsorships. 

LVACA prioritizes collaborations in the arts and cultural community, including community-based partnerships with organizations such as the DaVinci Science Center, the Baum School of Art, the Allentown Arts Commission, Americans for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Lehigh University Art Galleries, Lehigh Valley Engaged Humanities Consortium, and Community Bike Works.

It is our hope that LVACA will serve as a model both for nonprofit business acumen and collaborative leadership in the community.

Our Programs

We meet this unique mission by focusing our programming in four distinct areas. Accessibility to the Arts. Research & Analysis. Community Engagement. Advocacy & Marketing.

Accessibility to the Arts

For people of all identities and abilities to participate in arts enrichment.

Research & Analysis

For constituencies throughout the Valley for use in strategic decision-making.

Community Engagement

For those working in the cultural community and for youth to engage the arts and develop skill proficiency.

Advocacy & Marketing

For arts and cultural organizations and artists interested in becoming a voice for LVACA.

Champions

The Lehigh Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance is supported by countless numbers of donors, supporters, and volunteers whose contributions and commitment allow for the organization to serve the arts and culture community in the Lehigh Valley. 

Among these supporters, the LVACA Champions provide support at the very highest levels and we are honored to acknowledge their dedication to the artistic pursuits of artists and arts organizations serving the region.

Ellen Baker Ghelardi
Robert & Susan Godomski
Ann Lalik
Steve LaPierre
David Mickenberg
Watkins Family Foundation

Our Partners

LVACA Team

Our Team is small but mighty, passionate about the arts and devoted to advocating for the creative soul of the Lehigh Valley.

David Mickenberg

Board Chair

Sean King

Managing Director

LVACA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PRESIDENT
DAVID MICKENBERG
VICE PRESIDENT
ANN LALIK
SECRETARY
STEPHEN LA PIERRE
TREASURER
TODD WATKINS
trustee
Ellen Baker Ghelardi
trustee
PETE WALDRON
TRUSTEE
GINA KORMANIK
trustee
Daniel Kainz
trustee
TANYA TYLER
TRUSTEE
VINDYA RAGHAVACHARI
TRUSTEE
ELIZABETH MASSA

LVACA STAFF

Managing Director
Sean King
Data & Research Study Coordinator
Meg Mikovits
Arts & Accessibility Manager
Jacqui Schwartz
community coordinator
pas simpson
artistic operations
Deborah Rabinsky
administrative manager
Sharon Smith

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