History

ArtsErie, formerly the Arts Council of Erie, was founded in 1960. In 2010, ArtsErie celebrated its 50th anniversary.

50 Years at a Glance

ArtsErie was founded in 1960 and was the first arts council in Pennsylvania. Charter members were the Erie Civic Ballet, the Art Center, the Erie Philharmonic and the Erie Civic Theater.

  • In the fall of 1967, the first of 43 successive United Arts Fund drives was held. It was the first in PA and the 16th in the United States.

  • The Erie Arts Endowment was created in 1982 with a gift from Clarence E. Beyers. Additional gifts were received from Mr. Beyers, a trust established by Lydia McCain, the McBrier Family, and Roger Zurn and Kathy Zurn Rohm; through a PA Council on the Arts matching program; and from countless other donors.

  • Endowment sub-funds were established for many of the major arts organizations in 1990.

  • Also in 1990, the Board was restructured from a board comprised of arts organizations to a business board.

  • In 1993, the Arts in Education Partnership was established with the PA Council on the Arts that focused on arts integration in the classroom curriculum through artist residencies. Today, ArtsErie covers 11 counties in Northwest PA.

  • In 1994, a Master Plan for the restoration and expansion of Erie’s historic Warner Theatre was completed, which lead to the creation of the Warner Preservation Trust.

  • 1999 was also the beginning of another partnership with the PA Council on the Arts known as the PA Partners in the Arts. This program has brought new funding opportunities for smaller arts programs and projects in Northwest PA.

  • In 2005-06, the ArtsErie Board completed a strategic planning process that led to our name change to ArtsErie in 2008 and a broader vision for the organization that encompasses the arts throughout the county.

  • ArtsErie and The Nonprofit Partnership facilitated CultureSpark, the Erie County Cultural Master Plan, a 10-year roadmap for arts, culture and heritage, in 2009-10.

ArtsErie has evolved into a strong, viable organization that is ready to lead the arts in Erie County for the next 50 years.