by Jennifer LoConte, Director of Communications 

What started out as a dinner conversation between friends and business associates, including Musikfest founder Jeff Parks and other city officials, on how to rejuvenate and enhance the former Bethlehem Steel Site on the city’s SouthSide, has evolved into the development of a vibrant arts and cultural campus that, many years later, continues its growth trajectory.

Gregg and Cindy Feinberg have been intimately involved in ArtsQuest for well over 20 years. Gregg started out as the first Treasurer of the ArtsQuest Foundation until then-Mayor John Callahan asked him to serve as project manager for the initial development of SteelStacks. Gregg then served as Vice Chair and Chair of the ArtsQuest Board of Trustees and is the first Trustee Emeritus. Since 2018, both Gregg and Cindy have proudly served as Co-Chairs for the Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign and were instrumental in the complete renovation of the first floor of the ArtsQuest Center. Today, upon entering the music and performing arts venue, you’ll immediately see the Gregg and Cindy Feinberg Welcome Center.

The Feinbergs have seen a tremendous amount of growth throughout the ArtsQuest campus over the years. Gregg was involved in it all, from the Levitt Pavilion presented by LVHN to the ArtsQuest Center and now with the LVHN Turn & Grind Shop and the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL. “Where we’re at now, with the Creative Factory and the Turn & Grind Shop – I call it ArtsQuest 2.0,” commented Gregg. “We’re finishing what we started many years ago, after being interrupted by the pandemic.”

“Having the support from the community, partners and sponsors – it’s been extremely fulfilling to us, as co-chairs of the Campaign,” said Cindy. “Both Lehigh and Northampton Counties were very involved right from the start.” Bipartisan funding was important as the SteelStacks campus would fundamentally change the landscape of South Bethlehem.

The ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL will be a visible presence right in the heart of South Bethlehem and will bring new excitement to the community. “Prior to COVID, we were somehow going to try to maintain these six piece-meal buildings,” continued Gregg. “One good thing that came from the pandemic is that it was no longer economically feasible to do so and thanks to the Historic Commission and the City Council, we were allowed to start with a fresh sheet of paper.”

The Turn & Grind Shop renovation plan has taken on a life of its own as LVHN now holds the naming rights and renovations will begin. “It will surely enhance Oktoberfest and Christkindmart, and of course the mainstage of Musikfest in terms of facilities such as kitchens and private dining areas for the performers. Meals are prepared for each of the 11 acts daily for 11 straight days. With a completed Turn & Grind Shop, we’ll save money.”

The Feinbergs say that the Re-Imagine That! Campaign tees up fulfillment of the mission of ArtsQuest, serving as wonderfully as it has for 35 years in the community. “These new buildings will lead the organization and serve the next generation – from students to seniors, families and the community, through arts, culture, music and education. We’re thrilled to be a very small part of it, raising the dollars needed, making connections and building relationships.”

When asked what the Feinbergs enjoy most about ArtsQuest? They unanimously said, “Musikfest, of course.” The couple loves to attend the wide variety of concerts taking place on 15 stages throughout both Bethlehem’s North and SouthSides and experience the pulse that the nation’s largest free music festival brings to the city of Bethlehem every August. They also enjoy Oktoberfest, Christkindlmarkt and most recently, PEEPSFEST with their grandchildren.  They also take in concerts at the Musikfest Café, movies at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas and First Friday events. When retirement presents itself, Cindy plans to participate in many of the visual arts classes ArtsQuest offers, classes that are even continuing offsite during the Creative Factory’s construction, thanks to partners such as the Bethlehem Area School District and the Bethlehem Area Public Library.

“It comes down to this,” continued Gregg. “If you present a world-class product that improves the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley, then, we have a community that will step up in support of it and we are all very appreciative of that. The Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign and the opportunities that it will bring will be excellent for so many facets of the community that we call home.”