Lehigh Valley
Arts + Culture 2025

The Power of the Arts

Thursday May 29, 2025

Williams Center for the Arts
Lafayette College, Easton

Join us for the second annual convening Lehigh Valley Arts + Culture convening, where arts, business, government, education, and funding leaders unite for an engaging day of research insights, networking, and generative conversation. Together, we’ll lay the groundwork for a vibrant and sustainable arts and culture scene in the Lehigh Valley.

For last year’s information, please download the 2024 Convening Program

Attendees network before the keynote speaker at the 2024 Convening.

2025 Event Schedule

Keynote Speaker

Michael J. Bobbitt

Executive Director, Massachusetts Cultural Council

Michael J. Bobbitt opens the Lehigh Valley Arts + Culture convening with an inspiring keynote on the arts as a catalyst for healing, unity, and civic transformation. Bobbitt frames the arts not as a luxury, but as essential infrastructure for quality of life, redevelopment, and community connection. His remarks will set the stage for a day of bold visioning, followed by a fireside chat exploring how cultural planning can drive lasting, inclusive change.

Lehigh Valley 250

Jessica Edris

Project Administrator, Lehigh Valley 250

The Lehigh Valley is set to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary through a wide range of immersive exhibitions, performances, and special events, reflecting the region’s rich historical connections to the American Revolution, industrialization, and cultural development. Project organizer Jessica Edris will share how this national anniversary is a turning point for regional organizations to build commemorative programs that cultivate sustainable and meaningful collaborations and drive cultural tourism to the region.

Regional Roundtable

Alex Michaels

President and CEO, Discover Lehigh Valley

Dr. Subham Kharel

Senior Data and Analytics Planner, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

Kyle Edwards

Artist, Founder & CEO, a true l.o.v.e story., llc | inkwell., llc | the market. by atls.

Breakout Sessions

⭔ The Power of Planning

Introduction to Regional Cultural Planning for government and business leaders, funders

⭔ Knowledge is Power

Professional development for independent artists

⭔ Fundraising is Power

Grant information for arts organizations

Featured Speakers

Michael J. Bobbitt

Michael J. Bobbitt is a distinguished theater artist. As the Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council, he is the highest-ranking public official in Massachusetts state government focused on arts and culture. Since 2021, he has led the Agency through several initiatives, including the development of its first Racial Equity Plan, d/Deaf & Disability Equity and Access Plan, and Native American & Indigenous Equity Plan; the launch of the nation’s first statewide Social Prescribing Initiative; the securing and distribution of $60.1 million in pandemic relief funding; and the design and implementation of a strategic plan for fiscal years 2024-2026. Recently, Bobbitt was listed as one of the Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 Movement Makers. He has been appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve on both the Governor’s Advisory Council on Black Empowerment and the newly established Massachusetts Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council and recently received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa from Dean College. He is a proud alumnus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Jessica Edris

Mission-centered from a young age, Jessica Edris has a wealth of experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors as a strategic thinker who sees the forest and the trees and is driven to make good things better while helping others. As a graduate of Moravian University and a long-time resident of the Lehigh Valley, Jessica has focused on mission-based organizations over her career as senior leadership in development, marketing, communications, strategic planning, and operational vitality. She is the Founder of Good Collective, a partnership of experienced professionals that build capacity of mission-driven organizations so that they can do more. She is highly sought after for leading complex collaborations and among other projects, leads the collaboration Lehigh Valley 250, a celebration of culture, arts, and history, that brings together community partners to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. As a past recipient of the Emerging Leader Award from Moravian University, she has served her alma mater as Past President of the Moravian College Alumni Association and former member of the Alumni Board of Directors. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Notre Dame High School, the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Business Council and Humanitarian Social Innovations.

Lehigh Valley Arts + Culture 2025 is presented by

Event Schedule

Arrival

8:30 - 9:00 AM

Light Breakfast / Conversation / Ideation Boards

Music

Mike Lorenz, Guitarist/Composer/Educator

Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:15 AM

Speakers

Ingrid Furniss, Dean of Arts and Humanities, Lafayette College

David Mickenberg, Board President, Lehigh Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance

Salvatore J. Panto, Mayor, City of Easton PA

Session 1: Where We Are

9:15 - 9:55 AM

A presentation of the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 research study with a discussion of implications for the Lehigh Valley’s arts and culture sector.

Featured Speaker

Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research, Americans for the Arts

Session 2: What Is Possible

10:00 - 11:00 AM

A thought leader in the arts and culture sector provides examples of arts in action, and discusses the importance of the societal impacts of arts and culture in the community.

Keynote Speaker

Lesa Ukman, Founder, ProSocial Valuation Service

Session 3: Where We Want to Be

11:10 - 11:50 AM

A moderated discussion with panelists representing government, funders, and the arts community on topics, ideas, and next steps to where we see the arts heading over the next decade. This session features engagement from attendees and presentation of ideas and topics shared during the morning social.

Panelists 

Berrisford Boothe, Artist-Curator-Author

Becky Bradley, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

J. William Reynolds, Mayor, City of Bethlehem PA

Stephen P. Link, Director of Philanthropic Services, Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management

Moderators 

Leela Breithaupt, Executive Director, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem 

Jason King Jones, Artistic Director, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Closing Remarks

11:50 AM - 12:00 PM

Speaker

Sean King, Managing Director, Lehigh Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance

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Double Your Impact

Right now, every membership gift you make will be DOUBLED thanks to a generous anonymous donor.

That means your support goes twice as far to fuel creativity, champion local artists, and strengthen the vibrant cultural fabric that makes the Lehigh Valley shine.

Double Your Impact

Right now, every membership gift you make will be DOUBLED thanks to a generous anonymous donor.

That means your support goes twice as far to fuel creativity, champion local artists, and strengthen the vibrant cultural fabric that makes the Lehigh Valley shine.