Due to COVID-19 Berks Arts Council presents the 2020 Fast Lane Art Virtual Exhibition featuring the Fast Lane Art Honorees starting on Monday, April 27, 2020 via the Berks Arts Council’s website, www.berksarts.org, Fast Lane Art and Berks Arts Council Facebook pages. The Fast Lane Art program partnered with the Berks County Intermediate Unit Secondary Show in February at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts to create a more inclusive art exhibit. This year’s selection of pieces for Fast Lane Art were chosen from the largest show to date, featuring 1731 pieces of art submitted by 1103 students from 22 school districts. Fast Lane Art Juror, Deb Schlouch is a self-taught artist and co-founder of Schlouch, Inc.
Deb Schlouch, event sponsors and the Fast Lane Art Committee selected 29 pieces of artwork to be displayed not only virtually but on street pole banners throughout West Reading and City of Reading. The banners will also be made available to local businesses and townships who would like to utilize them as part of their public art initiatives.
Berks Arts Council is working with the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center, the Historical Architectural Review Board, and the City of Reading Mayor’s office to implement later this year a new initiative of Window Art and an Art Walk within the City of Reading featuring the student art work. Businesses in the City of Reading are welcome to participate in the Art Walk and feature the student works in their windows with temporary window decals. To learn more on how to become an art partner, contact Berks Arts Council at 610-898-1930 ext. 28 or email [email protected].
Due to COVID-19, the awards to be presented by the Berks Arts Council at a later date were funded through the Alma Woods Memorial Award. The Alma Woods and Jack Coggins Memorial Awards were created by the late Alma Woods to support artist awards in Berks County. Details of the Awards Reception in conjunction with the exhibition to be held at the Berks County Community Foundation will be forthcoming.
Special thanks to our partners: Riverfront Federal Credit Union, Berks County Community Foundation, Weidenhammer Systems Corp, Wyomissing Foundation, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Berks County Intermediate Unit, West Reading Main Street, Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center and City of Reading Department of Public Works.
Fast Lane Art began in 2008 in partnership with Land Displays to build awareness and artistic talent in Berks County. After a three-year hiatus, the competition was revived in 2014 with a renewed focus on student art. Freedom Auto Group became a sponsor in 2016 as a way to encourage young artists and support the arts in area schools. In 2019, the program was expanded with a partnership with the Berks County Intermediate Unit and incorporated a public art component through street pole banners.
Through the creation and support of varying art events, community collaborations and grants, the Berks Arts Council positively impacts our community cultural and economic well-being. The mission of the Berks Arts Council is to inspire, engage and unit our community through arts, education, collaboration and presentations. Our vision is to support community and economic growth, promote positive change and create a more connected community. Today, in everything the Berks Arts Council does and supports, we seek to make Berks County, PA a more creative, more desirable, and a more resilient community.
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