Allentown
Arts & Culture
Project Grants
The Allentown Arts & Culture Project Grants program supports independent artists and small nonprofit organizations offering impactful, community-centered creative projects in the Lehigh Valley. Grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 are awarded to new or reimagined projects across all creative disciplines—music, visual art, dance, theater, writing, digital media, film, and more.
By expanding access to funding, these grants help empower the region’s artistic and cultural community, cultivate connections between artists and organizations, and advocate for the value of creative work.
2025 Recipients
La Casita de Bambú: Community Arts Residency Program
Daniel Djuro-Goiricelaya
Through La Casita de Bambú, a year-long residency series, El Patio de Mi Casa will bring internationally recognized artists into collaboration with Allentown residents. This bilingual initiative (English and Spanish) will activate public spaces, engage youth, and celebrate the city’s rich cultural narratives through community-based art experiences.
The Patio Podcast
Kate Kareha
In the third season of The Patio Podcast, Kate Kareha will produce six new episodes focusing on oral histories shared by senior citizens and aging adults in Allentown. The season’s release will be accompanied by community education for older adults on how to access and enjoy podcasts. The Patio Podcast is a wistful exploration of Allentown’s enduring attachment to Hess’s Department Store. Through recorded conversations with seniors, former employees, collectors, and historians, The Patio Podcast preserves multigenerational memories.
Coming Home
Robin Gow
Poet and artist Robin Gow invites Allentown residents to explore the meaning of home through storytelling and illustration workshops. The result: Coming Home, a full-color children’s book co-created by community members, capturing diverse voices and lived experiences in a vibrant, heartfelt tribute to the city.
Connecting through Mindful HeARTS Workshop
The Lovely Little Lotus | Larissa Noto
Designed for children of all abilities (ages 4–10) and their caregivers, Connecting through Mindful HeARTS offers inclusive workshops blending art, movement, music, and mindfulness. These sensory-rich experiences foster creativity, connection, and emotional wellness in a supportive and adaptable setting.
Mural Mentorship Project
Matt Halm
Aspiring artists will gain hands-on experience working alongside professional muralist Matt Halm to design and create a public mural in Downtown Allentown. This unique mentorship opportunity teaches every step of the mural-making process from concept to completion while investing in the city’s creative future.
Reuse Your Refuse
Monica Salazar
Children will learn the value of sustainability through creative artmaking in Reuse Your Refuse, a hands-on program focused on recycled materials. From paper-making to sculpture, young artists will transform everyday waste into colorful works of art, culminating in a public month-long exhibit of their creations.
Amplify Voices
Lys Sparrow & Dan Chiles
Children will learn the value of sustainability through creative artmaking in Reuse Your Refuse, a hands-on program focused on recycled materials. From paper-making to sculpture, young artists will transform everyday waste into colorful works of art, culminating in a public month-long exhibit of their creations.
Transcendence – A Celebration of Trans and Non-Binary Artists in the Lehigh Valley
Rei Ukon
Artist Rei Ukon will lead two art-making workshops for trans and non-binary adults during sessions offering a supportive space for creative expression, reflection, and connection, with all materials provided. Workshop participants will be invited to submit their work for consideration to Transcendence, a juried visual art exhibition spotlighting gender expansive artists, their work, and their experiences.
