New Year, New Possibilities: Welcoming 2025 with Creativity and Connection
As the curtain rises on 2025, Erie Arts and Culture invites you to embark on another incredible journey of creativity, connection, and cultural celebration. The new year isn’t just a turning of the page—it’s an open canvas, ready for bold strokes, vivid colors, and fresh stories waiting to unfold.
Looking back, 2024 was a year of tremendous growth and innovation. From vibrant folk art workshops in libraries across six counties to groundbreaking partnerships like April’s Solar Eclipse programming, we built connections that stretched across our region, uniting people through the power of art. With every program, event, and initiative, we witnessed the transformative impact of creative expression.
But the story doesn’t end there. 2025 holds even greater promise.
This year, Erie Arts and Culture is excited to offer opportunities that inspire and empower local artists, creatives, and community members.
New in 2025: Creative Crowd is now a quarterly meetup at select host sites, offering fresh and inspiring settings for conversations and connections. Since launching Creative Crowd as a monthly get together in 2022, we've seen more and more opportunities arise for creatives to connect, network, and share ideas. We've adapted our model to complement this exciting selection of programs.
Be part of our crowd in 2025:
January 14th - 10/20 Collective
April 8th - Big Ideas Learning
July 8th - Historical Institute of Culture and the African American Experience
October 14th - Grounded Print Shop
Join us from 5:30 - 7:30 PM for an evening of networking, inspiration, and fun. Snacks and drinks are on us, so come out and be a part of the conversation. No RSVP required!
Empowering Creative Entrepreneurs: Working Artist 101 Expands Its Reach
This past year, Erie Arts & Culture's Working Artist 101 series was a resounding success! Designed to help creative entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses, the workshops provided hands-on, practical tools for professional growth, all led by industry experts.
Thanks to partnerships with host sites in Meadville, Oil City, and New Castle, participants had the option to attend sessions in person, livestream from these locations, or join from home. This expansion allowed us to reach even more creatives across the region.
We’re thrilled by last year’s success and excited for what this year holds as we continue to support and equip artists with the tools they need to thrive! Mark your calendars for 2025’s first Working Artist 101 on January 22nd, 2025 from 6:30-8:00. This month’s topic focuses on best practices for building a professional website.
At Erie Arts and Culture, we proudly celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our region. This year’s Ethnic Market Tours were a resounding success, offering guided visits to New American-owned shops in Erie. These sold-out tours highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit and cultural contributions of refugees and immigrants, fostering a deeper appreciation for our community’s diversity.
We also brought folk and traditional arts to 25 libraries across six counties, hosting 49 workshops led by 13 talented artists. Participants explored art forms like Korean watercolor, African gospel music, Pysanky eggs, and Arabic calligraphy. One attendee summed it up perfectly: “These workshops breathe new life into Titusville!”
Stay tuned for more Ethnic Market Tours and workshops as we continue to celebrate the traditions that make our region so vibrant!
At Erie Arts and Culture, our Arts Education program is dedicated to enriching lives through immersive and impactful arts learning experiences. We believe the arts are a vital component of a well-rounded education, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and cultural awareness.
Currently, our program offers after-school programs, special needs programs, and community-based initiatives, ensuring that arts education is accessible to all. But we’re not stopping there—2025 marks an exciting expansion into arts integration, where teaching artists and classroom educators collaborate to design lessons that use art as a tool for deeper learning.
Imagine learning U.S. geography by singing a song about the 50 states or understanding pivotal moments in history by acting them out in a play. This innovative approach not only enhances learning but also creates meaningful connections between subjects and creative expression.
Exciting Upcoming Events
Poetry Out Loud
Calling all high school students! Poetry Out Loud is your chance to recite and perform powerful works from a curated anthology of over 1,200 poems. This national program builds confidence, enhances public speaking skills, and deepens a love for literature.Location: Blasco Library
Date: January 25, 2025, at 1:00 PM (Rain Date: February 2)
Participation is free, and materials are provided! For more information or to register, contact Jim Hain at james@erieartsandculture.org.
Summer Camp Collaboration with Regional Science Consortium
This summer, we’re teaming up with the Regional Science Consortium for a four-week arts integration camp combining art and science. One highlight: kids will explore the invasive plants on Presque Isle, learn how to harvest them, and transform the plants into handmade paper. That paper will then serve as a canvas for their creative artwork, connecting environmental science and visual arts in a hands-on, unforgettable way. Stay tuned for more details!
Through a collaboration between the Regional Science Consortium and Grounded Print Shop, students used the colors of nature to create art. The success of the Art of Science program in 2024 inspired the launch of a new Summer Camp in 2025.
To further elevate the incredible work of our regional artists, we’re excited to announce the upcoming launch of our Artist Directory on the Erie Arts and Culture website. This directory will highlight the talented teaching artists, visual artists, performers, and creators connected to our organization. Visitors will soon be able to explore artists’ profiles, learn about their work, and access links to their projects and portfolios. This platform will not only showcase their talents but also connect them with new opportunities and audiences.
Stay tuned for more details on this exciting new resource, designed to celebrate and support the artists who enrich our communities every day!
At Erie Arts and Culture, we believe that every individual plays a role in shaping our creative community. Whether you’re an artist, a patron, or simply someone who believes in the power of the arts, your support makes it all possible.
In 2024, your contributions helped us:
Launch three new grant programs, distributing $90,000 to artists and organizations.
Host 49 folk art workshops across six counties.
Partner with libraries, schools, and community centers to bring dynamic arts programming to rural areas.
Celebrate milestones like the unveiling of the Erie High School mural, created by students with the guidance of a teaching artist.
As we look to 2025, your continued support will help us expand these efforts, nurture more artists, and create lasting impacts across the region.
Let’s start this year with a shared vision: a community where creativity thrives, traditions are celebrated, and opportunities abound for all. Together, we can make 2025 a year of bold ideas, meaningful connections, and unforgettable experiences.
We can’t wait to see you at our events, workshops, and celebrations this year. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next story we share—a tale of talent, perseverance, and the power of the arts to transform lives.
Here’s to a year of new possibilities, great events, and a creative community that continues to inspire!
