Members of the Butler Rotary are celebrating a grant that will help fund the newly created Butler Cultural District.
Members gathered over the weekend in front of the Penn Theater to announce the Cultural District was the recipient of a $100,000 creative arts grant, which will be spread out over four years.
Sarah Merritt is the Director of the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts—which awarded the grant.
“We selected this program because it had such an incredible partnerships,” Merritt said. “During this kind of community work, it can be difficult to move the needle unless you have really strong partners. That’s what this project has.”
County Commissioner Leslie Osche is also a member of the Butler Rotary and she says this grant is the latest development that shows a faith in the Butler community.
“Butler has so much to offer and I think all of these cultural assets we have here are so wonderful, all we need is a little boost with some coordination and promotion,” Osche said. “That can help us attract more people to come and enjoy it, and more people to take part in the arts.”
The Butler Cultural District was selected out of more than 200 applicants for the grant.
The press conference took place in front of the Penn Theater, which is still aiming to open for events by this fall. The event also accompanied a piece of sidewalk art in front of the Penn Theater that was completed by Erika Thurkins. She also led a day of chalk sidewalk demonstrations in front of the YMCA.
Art work in front of the Penn Theater.
