By Ashley Ramirez-Gonzalez
Photo: Berks Arts
For Berks Arts, community is key. As stated on their website, their mission is to inspire, engage, and unite the community through arts education, collaboration, and presentation. The organization does this in many ways, including its Fast Lane Art project. The project showcases the chosen works of high school artists through public art on billboards, walls, windows, bridge banners, and more throughout the city.
It’s a win-win situation – high school students are able to build visibility for their art and are also given an opportunity to feel confident in their abilities, be seen by the community, and become more connected to the city of Reading. In return, their art makes Berks County more beautiful.
When asking Chantee Gibson, Event Operations Director of Berks Arts, what grabbed her attention when she first learned about the student art program, she said, “It was exciting. It is great to be a part of an opportunity for the students to get exposure for their artwork. There are so many talented students in Berks County, and I want to get the community to see that.’’
Talking with the organization’s leadership, it is clear that the people working behind this project understand that the youth are the future, and they are providing them with support and a voice that allows them to feel seen by the community they are passionate about. They realize that someone who cares for their community is more willing to give back.
Chantee also described the amount of work that goes into the process each year. She emphasized the amount of planning and help from the many dedicated volunteers, “Fast Lane Art relies on the wonderful staff of Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) that puts on their Annual Secondary Art Show, showcasing artwork by students from all schools in Berks County. We pick our winners from this show, and it’s an overwhelming task because of the amount of talent.” Chantee explains that she judges the pieces not only by artist talent, but also by the students’ style of expression, how it looks commercially on the windows and buildings of different companies, walls, and around the city. She says the overall success of the art, however, is measured by the happiness of the people.
Concurrently, at the same time of year, organizers are managing other events as well, including the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, a 10-day music festival that features acclaimed artists. Students are a huge part of this festival as well, as they bring together school Jazz bands from Berks and other counties to learn from and play alongside professional jazz musicians.
There seems to be a parallel among the events run by Berks Arts, in that they are constantly thinking of better ways to inspire local youth. Berks Arts is a non-profit and relies on many volunteers to make an opportunity like Fast Lane Art available to students. The organization has the people and the future of the city in mind when thinking of opportunities. Because of donations and volunteers, Fast Lane Art has been able to provide hundreds of students with ambition, a voice, and a place to express themselves.
Donations to Berks Arts fund valuable resources, grants, and opportunities for artists. If a business or individual would like to donate, or if you would like Fast Lane Art displayed on your business, you can contact chantee@berksarts.org, call 610-898-1930, or go directly to the berksarts.org website. Costs vary depending on the type of installation and materials. For windows, only the cost of labor and materials is asked, and installations are typically done during warmer months or when the weather is above 67 degrees. Other options, such as banners on streetlamps along bridges, cost approximately $5,000 for installation by the city and printing and may include your business logo on the banner.
