New Creative Hub Will Expand Access to the Arts, Education, Economic Growth and Community Engagement Across the Lehigh Valley

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, June 17, 2025 – ArtsQuest officially broke ground today on the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, a transformative $32 million visual, performing and educational arts center. The new facility, located on the site of the former Banana Factory, will be a gateway to Bethlehem’s SouthSide and will dramatically expand access to arts programming for all ages, serving as a hub of creativity, equity and community engagement across the Lehigh Valley.

The groundbreaking ceremony featured remarks from regional leaders and supporters, including Senator Lisa Boscola; Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure; Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds; Joe Bergstein, Chair of the ArtsQuest Board of Trustees and PPL Foundation Board Member; ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert; Air Products’ Laurie Hackett; Boyle Construction’s Sean Boyle; and Gregg & Cindy Feinberg, co-chairs of the Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign.

ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel opened and closed the event, emphasizing the long-term community impact of the new facility. “This isn’t just a groundbreaking, it’s a commitment to future generations of artists, students and families,” said Mosel. “As artist Corita Kent once said, ‘Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.’ “Today, we pick up that hammer together to shape a future where creativity, opportunity and community thrive for generations to come.”

A New Chapter for the Arts in Bethlehem

Replacing the dilapidated six-building Banana Factory, the Creative Factory powered by PPL will be a five-story, 78,500-square-foot hub for year-round arts access, community programming and education. Designed with sustainability, accessibility and inclusion in mind, the facility will include:

• 36 artist studios (a 20% increase)
• A dedicated comedy venue and classroom space
• Expanded visual arts classrooms (all with sinks)
• A Communications Pathway program in partnership with the Bethlehem Area School District
• Martin Guitar Recording Studio
• Modern galleries, flexible outdoor programming areas and community meeting/event areas
• The Makerspace presented by Air Products
• Environmental and smart building features including energy-efficient systems, water-saving fixtures and eco-conscious materials

In line with ArtsQuest’s sustainability goals, bricks and other materials from the Banana Factory are being recycled and used as foundation materials for the new site, a nod to the organization’s commitment to adaptive land reuse and environmental stewardship.

In addition to being free and open to the public seven days a week, the Creative Factory will offer increased capacity for arts classes, camps, artist exhibitions and community engagement.

Why Now?

The Banana Factory, which has served the community for more than two decades, has outgrown its footprint. Multiple feasibility studies confirmed that replacing the building was more cost-effective and community-beneficial than attempting to renovate the aging structures, which would have required over $6.4 million in updates without adding any new space.

Expanding Access & Driving Economic Growth

ArtsQuest remains deeply committed to ensuring that the arts are accessible to all. The new facility will continue to provide financial assistance in scholarships for tuition-based programs. It will also foster deeper engagement with teaching and exhibiting artists and expand year-round access to cultural programming.

The economic impact is equally significant. The construction phase is expected to generate nearly 500 jobs and inject $46 million into the local economy. Once operational, annual programming is projected to support 100+ jobs and contribute more than $14 million to the local economy.

“This is more than just a building, it’s a promise to our community,” said Kassie Hilgert, ArtsQuest President & CEO. “We know that access to the arts improves academic achievement, emotional wellbeing and mental health. The ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL will help students succeed, artists thrive and communities connect because the arts are not a luxury, they are a necessity.”

Powered by Community

The ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL is being realized through the Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign, co-chaired by Gregg and Cindy Feinberg, with vital support from donors, sponsors and civic partners who believe in the power of creativity to transform lives.

“We’ve always believed in adaptive land reuse and creating spaces that serve people,” said Gregg Feinberg. “This new Creative Factory will honor our past, serve the needs of today and inspire the future.”

ArtsQuest extends heartfelt thanks to its many supporters, including PPL, Air Products, Boyle Construction, MKSD Architects and numerous individual donors and partners. Permanent donor recognition opportunities remain available for those who wish to support this once-in-a-generation community project.

As the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL rises, beam-raising ceremonies, hard hat tours and a ribbon cutting celebration are being planned to mark each exciting phase. Stay tuned as this bold new chapter in the Lehigh Valley’s cultural life continues to unfold.

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which nearly 40 percent are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.