Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA – April 9, 2025 – ArtsQuest is proud to announce it has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Main Street Matters Grant Program. This funding, made possible through the invaluable support and partnership of Northampton County, will be used to transform the historic Bethlehem Steel Turn & Grind Shop into a dynamic new venue, called the Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop, for new and extended arts programming, exhibits, festivals and event space.

The grant was approved by Governor Josh Shapiro as part of a larger $20 million state investment in community revitalization projects aimed at supporting downtowns, small businesses and local economies. The Turn & Grind Shop project is one of 81 community initiatives across Pennsylvania receiving funding from the Main Street Matters program.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant and are immensely grateful to Northampton County and its leaders for their unwavering support,” said Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest. “This project is a vital step in revitalizing Bethlehem’s historic SteelStacks campus and bringing new cultural and economic opportunities to the Lehigh Valley.”

Special thanks are extended to Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, Tina Smith, Director of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for Northampton County and Rebecca Sanchez, Grant Writer for Northampton County DCED, for their crucial support in securing this funding.

The Turn and Grind Shop, a 150-year-old building on the SteelStacks campus behind the Bethlehem Visitor Center, was acquired by ArtsQuest in 2009. Thanks to this grant along with generous support from the community, including naming sponsor Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health, the historic building will be renovated and transformed into a 26,000-square-foot arts venue. Plans include a 15,000-square-foot public programming space that will expand the footprint for Musikfest, Christkindlmarkt presented by Univest Financial, Oktoberfest presented by LVIA as well as host traveling arts, cultural and educational exhibits and provide a beautiful and much needed indoor/outdoor rental space for private and corporate events. A climate-controlled green-room area for musicians and performers, including a permanent on-site kitchen will round out the project.

“The Turn and Grind Shop will be a unique, year-round space for arts and culture that serves the community while honoring the rich industrial history of Bethlehem,” said Hilgert. “With LVHN part of Jefferson Health serving as the title sponsor, we will further strengthen the collaboration between the arts and healthcare, bringing together two essential pillars of community well-being.”

Governor Josh Shapiro originally made the announcement this past Monday, during the 2025 National Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia, where local leaders and professionals from across the country gather to share best practices for revitalizing main streets and downtown areas.

This grant marks a significant milestone in ArtsQuest’s long-term vision for the SteelStacks campus, providing an opportunity to further expand the cultural and economic impact of the Lehigh Valley.

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which nearly 40 percent are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.