Posted on January 11, 2019 by Heather Adams

GoggleWorks Announces New Science & Technology Initiative, Partnership with Penn State Berks

from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

GoggleWorks Announces New Science & Technology Initiative, Partnership with Penn State Berks

Art Center Embraces STEAM by Welcoming Berks Launchbox Maker Space and New Virtual Reality Lab

READING, PA  – GoggleWorks Center for the Arts (GoggleWorks) has announced a science and technology strategy to offer new approaches to its creative mission. The plan includes a unique partnership with Penn State Berks, bringing to GoggleWorks the Berks Launchbox, a maker space with 3D printers, laser cutters, and other fabrication tools for businesses, artists, and the community. The new strategy also includes the formation of a GoggleWorks Virtual Reality Lab.

The Berks LaunchBox will offer a maker space with 3D printers and tools for prototyping, entrepreneurship workshops, meet-ups focused on topics related to business development and technology, and special youth programs. The Berks LaunchBox will be open to members of the Greater Reading community of all ages, and will additionally serve as a resource for artists at GoggleWorks. “There are a myriad of opportunities in the field of STEAM-Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics,” said Levi Landis, President and Executive Director of GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. “The Berks Launchbox exemplifies these inventive opportunities and provides a rich model for partnership: a hub for incubating businesses and educating their leaders as well as a space to encourage creativity, design techniques, and new processes for artists.”

Keith Hillkirk Chancellor of Penn State Berks said, “My colleagues and I at Penn State Berks are delighted to enter into this partnership with the GoggleWorks as it will provide mutually beneficial opportunities for enhancing entrepreneurship education, support for start-ups, innovation, and engagement in economic development across multiple constituencies in our community.”

GoggleWorks also announced it is coinciding the Penn State Berks partnership with the opening of new GoggleWorks Virtual Reality (VR) Lab. “Artists Kris Jackson and Jason Morris have been working for two years as a private studio, with pilot programs at GoggleWorks that benefit school children, Fortune 500 companies, and visitors,” Landis continued. “Now we will integrate this dynamic, interactive art form into our mission, making the Virtual Reality Lab the eighth formal teaching studio on our campus.” GoggleWorks leaders explained that the new lab will allow for the expansion of VR in after school programs and summer camps, while adding new ways to experience tours, interactive methods for exploring static art objects, and opportunities for art parties and other events. The GoggleWorks VR lab is the first in the state that is designed for artists to create work using virtual and augmented reality tools, as opposed to other centers that focus on gaming, hospitality, prototyping, or instructional design. To celebrate the occasion, GoggleWorks will hold a VR Lab exhibition in the Schmidt Gallery on view from January 11th to the 30th.

“Many of our Board members, including Marlin Miller and former Reading Mayor Tom McMahon have urged us to explore opportunities with technology and new media,” said Landis. “We were limited by the cost of equipment and the challenges of growing a new audience, but by building partnerships with leaders doing extraordinary work we can design programs that offer new creative horizons for our community, artists, and visitors.”

You Might Also Like

Community Testimonials

Wish my town had a channel like this, very cool idea to bring the community together and give people a platform.

James

I wanted to thank you again for the opportunity you have created for our kids.  This experience is more than the TV show.  Eight students who probably never would have talked to each other were excited to execute a plan. Know that you make a difference.

Kristi

Thanks for your commitment to communication far and wide, for your technical support, and tireless efforts to bring fresh programs to BCTV. Bravo!

Liz

Thank you for always being receptive to my ideas. All of your efforts help me to help others and that is a blessing to me.

Adrean

Fantastic work and thanks so much for the quick turnaround!  Always a pleasure to work with you and the rest of the BCTV team!

Jim

Thank you and your staff for all you do to accommodate so many different shows, personalities, etc.!  Can’t be easy, but we really do appreciate it.

Martha

I am happy and proud to be a part of such a dedicated assembly of talent and purpose. Thank you for being a part of my efforts to promote theater and the arts in this region.

David