The Arts Add Value
Although you may not "get" the abstract expressionism of an exhibition at Sans MOCO Gallery, or enjoy a ballad with the symphony, the arts still hold value and help build a strong and vibrant community.
We are fortunate, for our size of community in Northern Mercer County, to have gallery space at Sans MOCO, and now at new member 16125 Market Place downtown. We have the Greenville Symphony Orchestra which celebrated it's 95th season! We have the Greenville Area Community Theatre that has been performing for over 40 years! We have the arts being promoted by Restore Riverside Park with it's summer concert series and we have arts programming including fine arts and dance happening at the Baughman Center!
Many of you are patrons and sponsors of these organizations and activities and we thank you, because the arts are important for the reasons below ↓
Community Identity: The arts allow us a way to express who we are as a community. Our mural downtown is a great example and contains imagery of current and historic mementos of community pride.
Social Cohesion: The arts provide an opportunity to bring the community together, breaking down social and economic barriers. This happens both with participants, for instance with the group of musicians bringing our symphony to life, and the audience, the people collectively enjoying a performance from the community theatre.
Quality of Life: Regardless if classical music is your thing, the fact that we have an opportunity, locally, to listen to talented live music, performing some of the greatest musical compositions brings a quality to our way of life in rural Western Pennsylvania.
Tourism and Economic Development: We have people attending performances and viewing art from all over the county and beyond. Our local artistic endeavors play a role in spotlighting our community to potential employers and employees alike.
