Building Community Through the Arts: Norristown Arts Hill Launch Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
1616 Walnut Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Contact:
John McInerney
johnm@philaculture.org
215-399-3515
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
What: A fun-filled family day in Norristown celebrating the launch of Arts Hill.
When: Saturday April 24, 10 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where:DeKalb Street from Main to Marshall
NORRISTOWN, PA – Music! Dance! Theater! And, oh yes, food! All of it will be part of the Norristown Arts Hill Launch Festival on Dekalb Street from Main to Marshall Streets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 24, rain or shine.
Whether your thing is jazz, ballet, folk dancing, gospel or film – and whether you like watching it holding a juicy pork sandwich, a plate of Mexican or a warm slab of funnel cake – this is one street scene you just can’t miss.
The day’s festivities will consist of 27 performances on four stages, with acts including jazz pianist Father John D’Amico, Ebenezer Gospel Choir, Soul Tempo, St. George Coptic Church Choir, Stony Creek Fiddlers, Centre Theater, Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio, Theatre Horizon, Ballet Folkorico Acapulco, Iron Age Theatre, Siloam Men’s Gospel Chorus, Guitarist Ross Trotter, Jazz Pianist Tom Rogers, Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Ortiz authentic Mexican performance featuring Pedro Villnar along with Yards Ballet, Philadelphia Dance Theatre, Christ Center for Dance, West Chester University’s Jason Cooper playing French horn and many more!
“The arts have really helped us in revitalizing the community here in Norristown,” said Doug Seiler, President of the Norristown Arts Council. “Events like the Norristown Arts Hill Launch Festival, with the support of PECO, help bring the community together and strengthen everyone to keep working and keep building our neighborhood together. This is a very exciting time for Norristown, and the Festival will be a tremendous event for all involved.”
Montgomery County Community College, Bryn Mawr and Cabrini College will also perform various acts throughout the day. A “Best of Project Twenty1” film festival will be playing in 401 Dekalb Street all day. Bring some spending money for the many vendors that will be selling paintings, clothing, jewelry, and arts and crafts.
Bob Butera, a respected attorney, activist and longtime resident, agrees that Norristown’s revival will be led by the arts community.
“As a long-time observer and participant in Norristown community events,” he said, “I have never been more impressed than I am today with the current movement to celebrate the Arts in our town. This overwhelming citizen involvement and enthusiasm is exactly what we need. It’s this kind of spirit that will revive Norristown.”
For more information, visit www.phillyfunguide.com/norristown, call 610-272-9100 or e-mail norristownartshill@verizon.com.
The Cultural Alliance is a leadership organization of over 375 nonprofit arts and cultural institutions located primarily in the five counties of southeastern Pennsylvania. Its mission is making greater Philadelphia the foremost creative region in the world.
For more information on the Cultural Alliance, please visit www.philaculture.org.
Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation and one of the Greater Philadelphia region’s most active corporate citizens. PECO provides leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture organizations, including the Philadelphia Zoo, the Franklin Institute, People’s Light and Theater Company, and the National Liberty Museum. PECO also sponsors cultural events all over the region, including the Multicultural Series at Penn’s Landing, Family Saturdays at the Seaport, PECO Power Hour at the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Main Line Arts Center’s Children’s Art Festival. Additional information is available at www.peco.com.
