On May 22nd, the Charter Arts Foundation’s Giving Circle held its final meeting of the 2017-2018 school year at Bethlehem House Gallery, and members announced the project that they will be funding this year. The award went to the installation of a kitchen in the Charter Arts Commons Cafe. The kitchen is a much-needed addition to the school. The Giving Circle raised $24,500 for the project.
Charter Arts’ Executive Director, Diane LaBelle, received the Priscilla Payne Hurd award at the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting and Awards on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. Check out photos in the July edition of the Bethlehem Chamber’s Connections Magazine.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our 15th Annual Gala of Dreams event on Friday, April 27th. The event was held at the beautiful Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest. This year’s presenting sponsor was PNC Bank.
The Charter Arts Big Band wowed the crowd as they entered the 15th Annual Gala of Dreams on April 27, 2018.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our Art of Wine benefit at Saucon Valley Country Club on March 24th. The event was a great success!
In December, the Keystone Savings Foundation awarded the Charter Arts Foundation a $15,000 grant to support the Charter Arts Foundation’s capital campaign.
BETHLEHEM, PA (January 12, 2018)— Today, representatives from the R.K. Laros Foundation presented a $15,000 check to Debra Storm of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) to be used for the establishment of an ensemble practice room in the school’s music department and to support the final stage of the Charter Arts Foundation’s capital campaign, which funded the construction of the school’s current facility at 321 East 3rd Street in Bethlehem.
“The arts are something that our foundation has always supported; and we are thrilled, for the first time, to award a grant to Charter Arts,” says Laura Bennett Shelton, Vice Chair of the R.K. Laros Foundation.
“The Charter Arts Foundation is thrilled to receive a grant from the R.K Laros in support of our school’s music programs and to help us complete our capital campaign, ” says Debra Storm, Charter Arts’ Director of Institutional Advancement. “Ensemble practice rooms provide the essential technology and equipment that our students need to support their music education. In addition, receiving this gift from a well-respected organization like the R.K. Laros Foundation, which has made considerable investments in Bethlehem, is even more meaningful and profound.”
This grant was one of twelve grants awarded recently by the R.K Laros Foundation, established in 1952 by Laros Silk Mill founder and owner R. K. Laros and his wife Helen.
Above Photo (L-R): Laura Bennett Shelton, Vice Chair R.K. Laros Foundation; Larson Shelton, great grandson of R.K. Laros; Debra Storm, Charter Arts Director of Institutional Advancement; and Robert Bilheimer, Trustee, R.K.Laros Foundation.
April 19,2016
PR Newswire
Capital Impact Partners Marks Fourth Quarter with Largest Loan in Organization’s History
Governor Corbett and Mrs. Corbett pose for a picture at the project site with students, faculty and school administration.
Governor Corbett and Pennsylvania’s First Lady, Susan Corbett first visited the construction site of the new facility at Third & Polk Streets in south Bethlehem.
After their visit to the site, they returned to the school to tour the building and observe some after-school rehearsals.
A press conference then took place in the Black Box Theatre at 3:30pm.
Diane LaBelle, Executive Director, Mario Acerra, President of the Board of Directors, and Diane Wagner, Artistic Director of Theatre, all spoke at the press conference, sharing their appreciation for everyone who has made Charter Arts what it is today, the excitement for the move to the new facility and the appreciation for this special honor and day.
Junior theatre major, Lynsey Jeffery, sophomore visual art major, Bria Pickel and senior vocal major Calvin Hunter represented the student body at the site and on stage during the conference. As Student Council Vice-President, Lynsey Jeffery also shared a comment on behalf of the student body expressing sincere thanks to everyone for making the dream of the new school facility a reality.
Charter Arts thanks Governor Corbett, Mrs. Corbett and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for this award and their support of the hard work and dedication that takes place here at Charter Arts each and every day.
Photos: Christmas City Studio
Can you imagine your name or the name in honor of a loved one permanently displayed around the new school and shared with the south Bethlehem community? Read more about how you can become part of the living history of the new school.
The new Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) facility, located at the corner of E. Third & Polk Streets in south Bethlehem is open and ready to welcome students for the start of the 2015/2016 school year.
After twelve years as a respected Lehigh Valley educational institution, Charter Arts has outgrew its previous leased location on East Broad Street.
The new facility in south Bethlehem will provide much-needed additional classrooms and studios, a resource library, digital laboratory, a ‘green’ roof, commons deli and a 350-seat performing arts theater. The building will also be classified as LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.
Charter Arts is grateful to the countless individuals and businesses that, without their support, this project would not be possible.
If you or your business would like to be part of the new building by naming a room, a theatre chair or a sidewalk star….Click Here.
Every donation received is critical to the remaining fundraising goals for the project’s Capital Campaign.
Groundbreaking...June 2013
Dignitaries and school officials take part in the ceremonial ‘dig’.
Removal of trees and preparation of site…December 2013
Digging on the site began in January 2014….
One of the worst winters in years…2014
Construction resumes….2014
October 2014– Former Governor Tom Corbett and Susan Corbett visit the site with students and school officials.
Governor Corbett and Mrs. Corbett pose for a picture at the project site with students, faculty and school administration.
January 2015- And the walls are up!
February 2015- Topping Off!
The last roof plank goes up!
May 2015….Charter Arts staff, faculty, parents and board members were excited to tour the new facility during a series of ‘hard hat’ tours.
Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez visited the site for a tour with Diane LaBelle.
June 2015….the Gala of Dreams takes place at the ‘under-construction’ facility. The first floor is transformed for the evening into an elegant venue.
Charter Arts Executive Director, Diane LaBelle, kicks off the 2015 gala with an official welcome in the under-construction theater.
The under-construction art gallery was transformed for the evening.
September 2015- Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Our new home…
The new Charter Arts building- Columbia Street entrance (this is student entrance).
The new Charter Arts Theatre seats 360 guests. This performance space is essential for the close to 90 performances and events produced by the school throughout the school year. The school’s former facility only housed a 150- seat black box theatre, which required many performances to take place off-site.
