By Bryn E. Keeney, Public Relations Coordinator

On a warm summer evening in Bethlehem, the streets pulse with music and laughter. Food vendors line the walkways and streets; local artists share their work and families sway to the rhythm of a live band performing on the Wind Creek Steel Stage. It’s Musikfest, one of the Lehigh Valley’s most beloved traditions, and it’s a celebration made possible, in no small part, by a steadfast partner: PNC. 

For Pete Danchak, PNC Regional President for Northeast Pennsylvania, this kind of community experience is exactly why PNC has invested in the Lehigh Valley’s arts and culture for decades. It’s not just about events—it’s about impact. 

“We have a long-standing commitment to advancing the arts and culture across the Lehigh Valley,” Danchak says. “Our relationship with ArtsQuest and Musikfest as a supporter and sponsor spans decades and includes our financing expertise that helped develop the stage at SteelStacks and, more recently, the development plans for the new Creative Factory powered by PPL.”  

PNC’s support of the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL is just the latest chapter in a longstanding relationship with ArtsQuest. Years earlier, the foundation played a pivotal role in helping finance the transformation of Bethlehem’s former steel plant into what is now the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks. That project didn’t just reimagine a physical space – it reshaped the region’s economic and cultural future, laying the groundwork for the vibrant arts scene that thrives today.  

The ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, currently under development, is more than just a building. Part learning lab, part maker space and part performance hub, it’s the centerpiece of ArtsQuest’s Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign. And for PNC, it embodies the kind of creative, inclusive space their foundation is committed to nurturing in the neighborhoods it calls home. 

“We chose to support this project because we have a shared understanding of the value the creative arts and cultural programs deliver and know the value of offering educational opportunities to local students of all ages,” Danchak explains. “It is the vision for – and our shared belief in – what it will deliver in both the short and long term that makes the project stand out.” 

PNC’s relationship isn’t confined to buildings and blueprints. The foundation’s support also appears in more playful ways – like MusikFEAST, a PNC-sponsored social media segment that brings a flavorful twist to the Musikfest experience. Hosted by ArtsQuest Director of Content Marketing and Engagement Jon Lunger, MusikFEAST takes viewers on a delicious tour of the festival’s most popular food vendors. With humor, heart and plenty of taste-testing, the series celebrates the vibrant culinary scene that has become a signature part of Musikfest.  

This kind of creative collaboration exemplifies PNC’s belief that community impact goes far beyond sponsorship. As Danchak puts it, “Supporting the arts is not only the right thing to do – it’s also good business sense.” 

He notes that the benefits are both cultural and economic. A recent study by Americans for the Arts found that audiences attending arts and culture events in the Lehigh Valley generate more than $90 million in local spending. But the real value, he says, can’t be measured in dollars.  

“The most obvious benefit is seen in the contributions the arts and culture community make to improving the quality of life here,” Danchak says. “It’s a key factor that encourages families and young professionals to live and work in the region.” 

Indeed, the Lehigh Valley thrives on its ability to bring people together—whether through concerts, classes or festivals. And through every season and stage, PNC has stood not just as a sponsor, but as a neighbor. 

“The Lehigh Valley is an incredible community of businesses, individuals and families of all backgrounds,” Danchak says. “The Creative Factory and the ArtsQuest campus can—and will—play a central role in bringing the community together and strengthening our understanding and appreciation for each other.” 

As PNC looks to the future, its focus remains on meaningful, lasting impact. Danchak hopes that years from now, when a child attends summer art camp at the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, a family joins an art class, a student crafts something original in the recording studio, or a couple enjoys their favorite local comedian at the comedy theater, they’ll not only feel a strong sense of belonging, but also remember the people who helped make it all possible. 

“We don’t want to be seen just as a financial institution,” he says. “We’re neighbors who applaud all that ArtsQuest contributes to the region—and who truly love the Lehigh Valley.” 

So, under the lights of the SteelStacks and in the vision of the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, the story of PNC and ArtsQuest continues, a story not of transactions, but of transformation. A story where community isn’t just supported, it’s co-created, one connection at a time.