Press Room

Rivers of Steel Awards Eight Mini-Grants

Funding for local nonprofits provides $60,000 for heritage tourism,
community development, and placemaking initiatives

Homestead, PA (March 10, 2022)—Rivers of Steel recently awarded $60,000 to eight nonprofit organizations within the eight-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania that the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area represents.

Rivers of Steel Heritage Area’s Mini-Grant Program assists heritage-related sites and organizations as well as municipalities within the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area to develop new and innovative programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives.

Funded projects support heritage tourism, enhance preservation efforts, involve the stewardship of natural resources, encourage outdoor recreation, and include collaborative partnerships. Through these efforts, Rivers of Steel seeks to identify, conserve, promote, and interpret the industrial and cultural heritage that defines southwestern Pennsylvania.

Mini-Grants were awarded to:

Battle of Homestead Foundation, $4,881, for an archival project that includes the acquisition, digital conservation, and publication of the organization’s digital and physical assets to support community outreach.

Brownsville Perennial Project, $12,000, for the creation of a public greenspace in downtown Brownsville that supports recreation, community gathering, and a strengthened connection to businesses, historic tourist sites, and riverfront amenities.

Dragon’s Den, $6,500, for the restoration of an architectural model of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Homestead, crafted in 1895 by architect Frederick Sauer; the project will support heritage conservation and tourism efforts by showcasing the structure that was destroyed by fire in 1936.

Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, $5,129, for a storytelling campaign that will capture first-person narratives among stakeholders in the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area and near the Great Allegheny Passage and will encourage tourists to explore the region’s recreational assets.

Kelly Strayhorn Theater, $6,490, for equipment upgrades and backstage renovations that will enhance the Producing Partners program, which supports local producers of diverse productions.

Fort Pitt Museum / Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, $5,000, for educational programming that is created in collaboration with federally recognized Indigenous American tribes historically present in western Pennsylvania to share their history and culture.

Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka, $10,000, to complete conservation of the St. Francis and St. Clare murals, further refine the treatment plan for the next seven murals, and increase public accessibility to these nationally significant artworks.

West Overton Village and Museums, $10,000, for wayfinding and wayside signage that will allow for a more interactive and educational experience for guests.

The Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is one of twelve supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Funding is provided via DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Environmental Stewardship Fund to Rivers of Steel, which administers the Mini-Grant Program.

As part of its ongoing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion efforts, Rivers of Steel gave special consideration to black- or minority-led organizations and organizations that serve a majority BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) audience and communities. Rivers of Steel is committed to working with organizations who share our long-held belief in diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion and is committed to fighting systemic racism and discrimination against people of color.

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 the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area

This eight-county region is one of 55 National Heritage Areas designated by the U.S. Congress and one of 12 State Heritage Areas. A National Heritage Area is a place of national significance to America. For Rivers of Steel, Congress recognized the industrial and cultural heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania. Through a public-private partnership with the National Park Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Rivers of Steel supports heritage conservation, heritage tourism, and outdoor recreation as a means to foster economic redevelopment and enhance cultural engagement.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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Join the Team!

March 17, 2022  Update: Please note that the application window for all positions posted below has closed.  Thank you for your interest in Rivers of Steel. 

Rivers of Steel is excited to announce that we are hiring! We are in search of qualified candidates for one new full-time position and for several part-time positions.

Application Instructions

Please review the individual job listings for specific application instructions.

Rivers of Steel is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring, transferring, promoting, terminating, paying, training, benefits or any other actions affecting employees. Rivers of Steel does not make any personnel decisions based on an employee’s race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, ancestry, marital status, veteran’s status, non-job related disability or handicap, or other prohibited criteria as these terms are used under applicable law. Rivers of Steel abides by applicable federal, state, and local laws that govern human rights in the employment process.

Rivers of Steel Receives a RACP Grant
from the Commonwealth of Pennyslvania

Grant funds restoration of the Carrie Blast Furnaces and the Historic Pump House

Homestead, PA (December 13, 2021)—Rivers of Steel has received a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) for the restoration and stabilization of the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Rankin and Swissvale and similar improvements at the historic Pump House in Munhall.

The funds are added to other grants awarded earlier in 2021, including Save America’s Treasures. The combined use of these and additional funds will enable the continuation of restoration and renovation at the Carrie Furnaces and the Pump House. The sites are cornerstone attractions in the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. Carrie Furnaces NHL is also an iconic symbol of Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage. It will be the centerpiece of a redevelopment project in partnership with Allegheny County and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation.

“We are so grateful to Senator Jay Costa and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald for their strong support of our RACP application. This grant will help continue our work of stabilizing and restoring these historic landmarks. That work will also further advance our programs and projects in heritage tourism and creative placemaking efforts by making the sites more accessible to tourists,” said Augie Carlino, president and chief executive officer of Rivers of Steel.

Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current employment levels, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. The Office of the Budget administers the RACP grant program to acquire and construct regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.

“We are also thankful to Governor Wolf for his approval of the RACP grant,” Carlino continued.

Save America’s Treasures support comes from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior; it is a program of the NPS, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

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 the Carrie Blast Furnaces

Once part of legendary U.S. Steel Homestead Steel Works, the Carrie Blast Furnaces are a vestige of Pittsburgh’s 20th-century domination of the steel industry. In 2006, Blast Furnaces #6 & #7 were declared a National Historic Landmark. Today, visitors to the site can connect with the region’s industrial and cultural past through a myriad of public tours and programs offered by Rivers of Steel.

About the Pump House

The Pump House dates back to 1892 when it was built by the Carnegie Steel Company. That same year it was the site of the Battle of Homestead, a defining moment in the nation’s labor history. Today, the building and its adjacent water tower help to interpret the nationally significant events of 1892 and highlight the illustrious steel-making legacy of the region.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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US Steel, Homestead, PA by Kathleen Ferri, collection of the artist.

Rivers of Steel Presents Memory Scenes: A Kathleen Ferri Retrospective

Exhibition Highlights the Painting Career of the Mon Valley Artist

Homestead, PA (September 29, 2021)—On October 8, Rivers of Steel will unveil a collection of works by artist Kathleen Ferri, whose “memory scene” paintings preserve the small-town streets of her childhood with an intuitive sense of history and warmth of sentiment.

In this solo show, 57 of Ferri’s paintings are on view as a collection for the first time—including many that are receiving their public debut. They radiate with color and burst with joy as expressive figures make their way through downtown Turtle Creek, riverside mills, Kennywood heritage days, and more.

The exhibition will be on view at the Bost Building in Homestead, October 8, 2021 through February 27, 2022.  It is presented by Rivers of Steel and augmented with archival artifacts from the organization’s collections. The show is curated by Barbara L. Jones, chief curator of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and Ron Baraff, director of historic resources and facilities for Rivers of Steel.

The opening reception on October 8 welcomes drop-in visitors from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in conjunction with the Homestead Live Fridays event happening that evening. The artist will join the reception from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., when a limited amount of timed tickets will be offered. Both parts of the reception are free.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Rivers of Steel is offering Memory Sketches: A Drawing Workshop on Tuesday, October 26 and Tuesday, November 16. Two Curator-Led Gallery Talks are offered on Saturday, November 6 and Saturday, November 20, 2021.

Kathleen Orgill Ferri was born in 1926 and raised in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania. In 1946, Kathleen married James Ferri, co-owner of the Ferri Brothers Market, after he returned from war. They raised their four children together on Oxford Street, near the Turtle Creek High School. After her husband’s death, Kathleen began painting in community art classes during her late 50s. She primarily paints from memory, recreating scenes from the Mon Valley towns of her youth.  She is now 95.

View details and the full schedule of programs in conjunction with this exhibition.

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.

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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From 1957 – 1974, Jack Boot Displays was commissioned to print mill safety signs for the United States Steel Corporation. This collection is highlighted in the “Safety First in Poster Art” story through Google Arts & Culture’s Pittsburgh: Proud and Powerful online, interactive exhibit.

Google Arts & Culture—Pittsburgh: Proud and Powerful

Explore Pittsburgh culture in a new interactive online project by Google Arts & Culture, in collaboration with 15 local organizations including Rivers of Steel, at g.co/explorepittsburgh

Homestead, PA (September 28, 2021)—Today Google announced its partnership with 15 world-class Pittsburgh institutions to bring the city’s culture—past and present—online on its Google Arts & Culture platform and app at g.co/explorepittsburgh.

For the first time, everyone everywhere can engage with these organizations—including Rivers of Steel—across the city in one digital location and discover its unique culture. Through the Pittsburgh: Proud and Powerful page, Google Arts & Culture hopes Pittsburghers can rediscover just how much their city has to offer, and that visitors will be encouraged to discover the city for themselves. 

Pittsburgh is the first city in the Northeast and fifth in the U.S. to be featured in Google Arts & Culture’s global initiative to capture and share the unique culture of cities. Along with Kansas City, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and Atlanta, Pittsburgh joins European cultural hubs on the platform including Milan and Naples, Italy, Lyon, France, and Hamburg, Germany. 

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.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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Rivers of Steel Receives a Save America’s Treasures Grant
from the National Park Service

Grant funds critical restoration of the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Homestead, PA (September 23, 2021)—Rivers of Steel has received a $358,667 Save America’s Treasures grant from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, for the restoration of key structures at the Carrie Blast Furnaces.

Rivers of Steel will use the funds to continue the restoration and stabilization of three critical sections of the furnace site: the #6 Cast House where iron was tapped, the stove / purification decks which generated heat for the site and processed furnace gases, and the water flume, a slag byproduct transportation trough.

The funds will help to ensure that Carrie remains open to the public and that integral portions of the contributing structure of the site are not damaged beyond the point of repair and mitigation. The #6 Cast House and the stove decks are currently accessed by the public on industrial tours, while the water flume area is restricted for safety.

“We are so grateful for the support from our partners at the National Park Service for this grant that will help continue our work of stabilization and restoration of the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark,” said Augie Carlino, president and chief executive officer of Rivers of Steel. “The Save America’s Treasures program is highly competitive, and it is an honor to have Carrie selected as one of the NPS’s critical investments in our nation’s history.”

“We are also thankful to Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Mike Doyle for their continued leadership and support of our work at Carrie and throughout the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area,” Carlino continued.

“The Carrie Furnaces National Historic Landmark has immense cultural and historical value, highlighting Southwestern Pennsylvania’s role as the steelmaking capital of the world in the twentieth century,” said Senator Casey. “As the centerpiece of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, Rivers of Steel has worked tirelessly in recent years to stabilize and restore Carrie Furnaces #6 and #7. The Save America’s Treasures grant will accelerate their efforts to preserve these structures for future generations, ensuring the contribution of Carrie Furnaces to the historic legacy of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial heritage.”

“I was pleased to support Rivers of Steel’s application for this Save America’s Treasures grant,” Congressman Doyle said today. “Steel workers and the steel industry have had a major impact on Pittsburgh’s culture and economy, and it’s essential in my opinion to preserve these important artifacts so future generations remember and appreciate our region’s heritage.”

Save America’s Treasures is a program of the NPS, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

The grant to Rivers of Steel is just one of 49 projects in 29 states supported by this year’s Save America’s Treasures grants, totaling $15.5 million. In Pennsylvania, the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia also received funds for the Carpenters’ Hall Preservation Project.

“From the Rose Bowl Stadium in California to Lucy the Elephant in New Jersey, the Save America’s Treasures program seeks to preserve and rehabilitate some of the most significant and iconic American structures and collections. Together with our partners, these grants help enable museums, states, Tribes, local governments, and nonprofits to fulfill their preservation work for future generations to experience, learn from, and enjoy,” said NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge.

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 the Carrie Blast Furnaces

Once part of legendary U.S. Steel Homestead Steel Works, the Carrie Blast Furnaces are a vestige of Pittsburgh’s 20th-century domination of the steel industry. In 2006, Blast Furnaces #6 & #7 were declared a National Historic Landmark. Today, visitors to the site can connect with the region’s industrial and cultural past through a myriad of public tours and programs offered by Rivers of Steel.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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Rivers of Steel 2021 Mini-Grant Program Applications Available

Homestead, PA (September 1, 2021)—Rivers of Steel is now accepting applications for its Mini-Grant Program, which assists heritage-related sites and organizations, as well as municipalities, within the borders of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. The Mini-Grants may be used to develop new and innovative programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives that are consistent with the mission and vision outlined in Rivers of Steel’s Management Action Plan. The Mini-Grant Program is funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, via DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Environmental Stewardship Fund.

Proposals that increase heritage tourism, enhance preservation efforts, involve the stewardship of natural resources, encourage outdoor recreation and/or include collaborative partnerships are strongly encouraged.

Application Deadline: Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EDT

Grant Awards Announced: December 2020, anticipated.

Rivers of Steel works to conserve the industrial and cultural heritage that defines southwestern Pennsylvania. Through its Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area program, Rivers of Steel champions the region’s natural, cultural, educational, recreational, and industrial resources as key components for preserving the region’s heritage, focusing on developing a sense of place, as well as contributing to the economic vibrancy of the region’s citizens and communities.

Applications are ranked using the following criteria: 1) a detailed and complete project narrative, 2) budget, 3) alignment for heritage tourism development, 4) and project outcomes.

Special consideration will be given to organizations applying for the 2021 Mini-Grants that are black- and/or minority-led organizations or organizations that primarily serve BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) audiences and communities. Rivers of Steel reiterates our long-held belief in diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion and strengthens our commitment to fighting systemic racism and discrimination against people of color amidst the nationwide call for ending racism.

Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status, local governments and educational institutions are all eligible for the Mini-Grant Program. All projects must be within or across Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington, or Westmoreland Counties and have a significant connection to the mission of Rivers of Steel. Grant requests for a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000 will be considered. Applicants must match (at a 1:1 ratio) these grant funds with additional funding and/or pre-approved eligible non-cash (in-kind / volunteer) services.

More information and the application can be downloaded here (Word document). Applicants will also need to download the budget worksheet here (Excel document).

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 the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area

This eight-county region is one of 55 National Heritage Areas designated by the U.S. Congress and one of 12 State Heritage Areas. A National Heritage Area is a place of national significance to America. For Rivers of Steel, Congress recognized the industrial and cultural heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania. Through a public-private partnership with the National Park Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Rivers of Steel supports heritage conservation, heritage tourism, and outdoor recreation as a means to foster economic redevelopment and enhance cultural engagement.

Contact Amy Buchan Baldonieri at 412.464.4020, ext. 235 or by emailing amyb@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel | The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Avenue, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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Bradford Mumpower’s vision for his Alloy Pittsburgh 2021 installation at the Carrie Blast Furnaces, a larger-than-life representation of the “greens” worn by workers.

Rivers of Steel Announces Programs for Alloy Pittsburgh 2021

Community Opening Reception, Meet-the-Artists Happy Hour, & Tours

Homestead, PA (August 11, 2021)—With its opening reception on August 28, the Alloy Pittsburgh exhibition of newly-created, site-based artworks returns to the Carrie Blast Furnaces. This is the fourth iteration of this journey by local artists to explore the National Historic Landmark’s legacy and its current and future role as an icon in the Mon Valley.

The opening reception is free to the public with advanced registration. Additional opportunities to experience the artworks include two Meet-the-Artists Happy Hour programs on September 9 and 23, which include a reception and artist-led tour of the exhibition, along with special, guided tours offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the end of the show’s run on September 26, 2021.

The Alloy Pittsburgh 2021 tours are a special version of Rivers of Steel’s Arts and Grounds Tour, which shares how the site is interpreted through a creative lens, from the management of its ecology to the various art programs that activate the site. This one-hour tour includes the Iron Garden, graffiti artworks in the Ore Yard, the renowned Carrie Deer sculpture, other metal arts sculptures, and current (and past) Alloy Pittsburgh installations.

The Meet-the-Artists Happy Hours are $25 per person; tours are $10 per person. Tickets and information are available at riversofsteel.com/alloy-pittsburgh-2021.

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 site’s characteristics, while offering regional artists a unique exhibition opportunity and career-building experience.

In 2021, Rivers of Steel and the Alloy Pittsburgh collaborators unveiled a new programmatic structure. With the funding from a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Alloy Pittsburgh 2021 reached beyond the walls of the Carrie Blast Furnaces to place resident artists in five neighboring communities of Braddock, Hazelwood, Homestead, Rankin, and Swissvale, Pennsylvania.

The following artists were paired with partner organizations in each municipality for a three-month residency period. During that time, artists communicated, collaborated, and connected with Mon Valley residents to develop their final projects at the Carrie Blast Furnaces. Each institution worked collaboratively with the Alloy Pittsburgh team to select and pair artists with the venue most suitable to their work.

• Darnell Chambers—hosted by Dragon’s Den in Homestead
• Reba Harmon—hosted by Three Rivers Village School in Hazelwood
• Lori Hepner—hosted by Braddock Carnegie Library Association in Braddock
• Sandy Kessler-Kaminski—hosted by Rankin Christian Center in Rankin
• Jan Loney—hosted by Rivers of Steel at the Carrie Blast Furnaces (in Rankin & Swissvale)
• Bradford Mumpower—hosted by the Wilkins School Community Center in Swissvale

“Community-based art programs, like Alloy Pittsburgh, provide a vital pathway for residents across the Mon Valley to celebrate and share their industrial heritage. They also help reimagine the changing 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.”

In May, the program launched with a weeklong research residency for the artists. During that week, the artists explored Carrie Blast Furnaces to learn about its history through various perspectives.  They met with former steelworkers, Rivers of Steel staff historians, and talked to other local scholars. The keynote speaker was Edward K. Muller, an emeritus professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh and former board chair of Rivers of Steel. The artists also met with former Alloy Pittsburgh resident artists to learn about their work, processes, and past experiences working in community-based residencies.

Following the kick-off week, the artists began working out of their community spaces, which shaped the nature of their engagement with their communities.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

Additional support for Alloy Pittsburgh 2021 has been provided by the Fine Foundation, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, and Eaton Corporation, with media sponsorship from Pittsburgh City Paper.

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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Join the Team!

Rivers of Steel is excited to announce that we are hiring for two new part-time positions—an Administrative Services Coordinator and Special Events Coordinator.

Application Instructions

Required application materials include, 1) a letter of application specifically addressing the job requirements and outlines qualifications; 2) a current resume; and, 3) a list of three professional references.  All required application materials must be sent electronically to:

employment@riversofsteel.com

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, applications received on or before July 15, 2021, will receive priority consideration. Only applicants most closely qualified for the position will be contacted for an interview.

Rivers of Steel is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring, transferring, promoting, terminating, paying, training, benefits or any other actions affecting employees. Rivers of Steel does not make any personnel decisions based on an employee’s race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, ancestry, marital status, veteran’s status, non-job related disability or handicap, or other prohibited criteria as these terms are used under applicable law. Rivers of Steel abides by applicable federal, state, and local laws that govern human rights in the employment process.