State aids Steel River, Audubon
Grants earmarked for cultural and museum support
Two Montgomery County cultural institutions have received state grants totaling nearly $60,000 to help them weather the revenue losses brought about by coronavirus pandemic shut-downs.
Steel River Playhouse in Pottstown, which last month announced the cancellation of its upcoming season, was awarded a grant of $25,000, a COVID-19 Cultural and Museum Preservation grant.
The National Audubon Society location at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Lower Providence Township received a $29,201 museum preservation grant.
Both grants are part of $20million in statewide relief funding for cultural organizations and museums to offset lost revenue caused by COVID-19.
Both grants were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority andwill be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Just last year, the Audubon center opened the new $13 million 18,000 squarefoot Center for Art and Conservation, a building shaped like a bird in flight.
In 2017, the center completed a $2 million renovation of the historic Mill Grove where Audubon lived when he conceived of the landmark “Birds of America,” a massive 435page tome which provided the first detailed, life-sized portrait of the nation’s migratory birds.
“We are very grateful to the commonwealth for this significant grant to support the John James Audubon Center during these unprecedented times,” Jean Bochnowski, Audubon’s deputy state director of centers and operations, said in a press release issued by the office of state Rep. Joe Webster, D150th Dist.
“These funds will help make up for the thousands of dollars lost during COVID-19-related closures and will ensure that we can maintain this important cultural asset and site for people and for birds, as we look forward to reopening our doors to the public,” Bochnowski said.
“Our collective and continued recovery must include arts, culture and history, and I’m thoroughly grateful the National Audubon Society was recognized for its importance in our community,” Webster said according to the release.
State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D146th Dist., echoed similar sentiments in the announcement his office issued about the grant for the Steel River Playhouse, which has lost more than $138,000 in revenue as a result of the pandemic.
“COVID-19 has hurt so many businesses and orga-
nizations across the state and within the 146th Legislative District,” Ciresi said in the press release. “And I will continue to fight to help in the recovery efforts for all that need assistance, including our conduits of culture.”
“Steel River Playhouse is thankful to be included in this round of funding,” said Rita Pederson, the theater’s development director.
“Protecting the arts by ensuring we can make it through pandemic closings will be vital to our community’s ability to recovery,” she said. “We are proud to be our community’s theater and can’t wait to welcome audiences again.”
Steel River Playhouse originated in 2001 in Chester County. In the wake of
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, professional and community artists, educators, and area residents began imagining how the performing arts would help heal and bring people together.
In 2003, having already produced several concerts, operettas, and musicals, the organization filed for nonprofit status and in 2005, moved its operations to Pottstown where it set to work developing a performing arts center that could accommodate diverse performance styles, as well as studio spaces for classes, rehearsals, private voice, acting, and instrumental lessons.
In 2008, Steel River purchased a turn-of-the-20th
century abandoned building, the former J.J. Newberry’s department store on High Street in downtown Pottstown, and transformed it into a $2.4million performing arts center.
Ciresi was on the steering committee for the formation of the theater 12 years ago and has also performed there.
“Steel River Playhouse has been part of Pottstown’s
creative and economic revitalization since its inception,” Ciresi said.
“In melding the traditions of volunteerism, camaraderie and community theater entertainment, this playhouse has increased community-wide access to the arts, particularly for children with disabilities and those who are generally underserved,” said Ciresi.