Rivers of Steel to Receive Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
Homestead, PA (January 15, 2020)—Rivers of Steel has been approved for a $35,000 Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the expansion of Alloy Pittsburgh 2020.
Alloy Pittsburgh is a unique visual and performing arts initiative developed for the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark and administered by Rivers of Steel. Through Alloy Pittsburgh, Rivers of Steel seeks to examine the history, current condition, and possible future of the Carrie Blast Furnaces without permanently transforming the characteristics of the site, while offering regional artists a unique exhibition opportunity and career-building experience.
With the funding from the Art Works grant, Alloy Pittsburgh 2020 will reach beyond the walls of the Carrie Blast Furnaces to place resident artists in five neighboring communities of Braddock, Hazelwood, Homestead, Rankin, and Swissvale, Pennsylvania. Five visual and/or performing artists will be paired with partner organizations in each municipality for a three-month residency period during which time artists can communicate, collaborate, and connect with local residents to develop their final projects at the Carrie Blast Furnaces.
Overall, the National Endowment for the Arts has approved 1,187 projects in every state in the nation, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Art Works funding category supports projects that focus on public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the nation; the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence; learning in the arts at all stages of life; and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life.
“The arts are at the heart of our communities, connecting people through shared experiences and artistic expression,” said Arts Endowment chairman Mary Anne Carter. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support projects like Rivers of Steel’s Alloy Pittsburgh 2020 artist residency and exhibition.
“Community art programs like Alloy Pittsburgh provide a vital pathway for residents across the Mon Valley to celebrate their shared industrial heritage and re-imagine the role of places like the Carrie Blast Furnaces in the region’s future,” said Augie Carlino, president and CEO of Rivers of Steel. “Generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and all of our local partners helps ensure these meaningful connections thrive.”
Rivers of Steel is currently seeking visual and performing artists to apply. Alloy Pittsburgh 2020 is open to regional artists and collaborative groups. Artists must live in one of the following PA counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington or Westmoreland. Interested artists can view the submission guidelines here.
Selected artists will be provided with funding, publicity, and support to develop temporary site-based artworks that will be presented to the public in an exhibition held at the Carrie Blast Furnaces site from August 29th to September 30th, 2020.
Additional support for Alloy Pittsburgh 2020 has been provided by the Fine Foundation and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
About Rivers of Steel
Founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources, Rivers of Steel strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.
Rivers of Steel showcases the artistry and innovation of our region’s industrial and cultural heritage through its historical and 21st-century attractions―offering unique experiences via tours, workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Behind the scenes, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization—working at the grassroots level to deepen community partnerships, promote heritage tourism, and preserve local recreational and cultural resources for future generations.
About Rivers of Steel Arts
Rivers of Steel Arts celebrates creative inquiry by crafting opportunities to interpret the region’s past, reimagine its future, and explore a sense of place. Through exhibitions, festivals, workshops, tours, and happenings, Rivers of Steel Arts helps individuals connect with their communities in meaningful ways.
Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.
Rivers of Steel | The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Avenue, Homestead PA 15120
www.riversofsteel.com
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