Berks Arts Council is starting the month of September with a new name, logo and refined mission to meet the needs of our local arts community. The organization recognized that its current name creates a perception that they can be viewed as a “governing” organization for artists and art organizations. In reality, the organization focuses on creating collaborations and partnerships between artists, art organizations, businesses, non-profit organizations and government. Beginning September 1st, the organization will now go by Berks Arts with a new logo reflective of the broad spectrum of the arts in our community.
Berks Arts mission is to inspire, engage and unite our community through collaboration, education and presentation. Berks Arts serves as a catalyst which addresses social and economic barriers through inclusive and integrative programs. The arts play a critical role in engaging diverse communities, changing perceptions, creating safe environments and strengthening economic opportunities. Berks Arts makes Berks County more creative, desirable and resilient.
Programs and services of Berks Arts include:
- On an annual basis, Berks Arts awards over $150,000 to arts organizations and artists in Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill Counties through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Partners in the Arts funding program.
- Fast Lane Art: Student Art Exhibition in partnership with the Berks County Intermediate Unit. Public art component was expanded in 2019-2020 to include street pole banners and window art. Window art to be installed this September as part of a City of Reading Art Walk.
- Frank Scott Memorial Art Show: Art of Jazz: a juried art exhibition open to all artists with works focusing on the theme of “Celebrate Jazz.”
- Music Presentations: Summer Bandshell Concert Series, Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest and Reading Blues Fest
- Coordination of Public Art Initiatives with Berks Alliance, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, City of Reading, local businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations.
- Youth Education programs through Get JazzED and a partnership with the Reading Musical Foundation.
- Arts Advocacy
The logo was created by local artist, Mimi Kolb of M. Kolb Design and Art Direction. In discussion with Jo Painter, Berks Arts Marketing Co-Chair, she remarked “it was a challenge to capture all that Berks Arts does in a logo. We felt it was important to incorporate the two large umbrellas of Visual Arts and Music. Jane Runyeon, Marketing Co-Chair, has a keen ability to capture actions artistically and was able to impart our vision to Mimi Kolb, who did a terrific job with our new logo design. We couldn’t be happier with the inclusive essence our new logo portrays.”
Berks Arts is located at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. To learn more about Berks Arts check out their website at www.berksarts.org.
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