“To have a well-rounded individual you need the arts and music and ArtsQuest provides that for the entire Lehigh Valley community.”
For more than 30 years, Fulton Bank has been a steadfast partner in ArtsQuest’s mission to enrich the Lehigh Valley through music, arts and culture. It is a relationship that has not only stood the test of time but flourished as both organizations continue to grow.
Fulton Bank’s relationship with ArtsQuest goes back to its Lafayette Ambassador Bank roots. “We’ve been very supportive of ArtsQuest even from when we had the Lafayette Ambassador Bank here in the Lehigh Valley,” said Doug Downing, leader of Fulton Bank’s Commercial Banking Team. “What ArtsQuest does with the community is extremely valuable. The bank’s been thrilled to be a part of providing banking services all these years because of what they do, we just feel it’s very valuable to the community.”
Fulton Bank is a Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign donor, sponsoring a dedicated jewelry-making classroom in the Creative Factory, which will further expand opportunities for hands-on learning and artistic expression.
“To have a well-rounded individual you need the arts and music and ArtsQuest provides that for the entire Lehigh Valley community,” said Downing. “Obviously what they’re bringing is transformative… It’s important to be a well-rounded community, and ArtsQuest is right at the center of it all.”
“The Creative Factory will be a big part of the cultural development in the area,” added Downing. The inclusion of the comedy center, subsidized artist studios, glass blowing studio and jewelry classroom will provide varied creative learning opportunities for members of the Lehigh Valley community. Personally, he shared, “I’m looking forward to the comedy. I know my daughter is interested in going to the glass blowing. That’s what she wants to do—but the comedy venue is something I’m specifically excited about.”
This commitment to culture aligns closely with their “Fulton Forward” campaign, which pushes for economic empowerment, job training and workplace development as a goal for the entire region. ArtsQuest’s position as a developer of arts and culture and a creator of jobs in the region perfectly meshes with these goals for the area. Programs like ArtSmart, a dynamic afterschool enrichment program in partnership with the Bethlehem Area School District, and Marketing Musikfest, which offers high school students real-world experience in event programming, budgeting, marketing and public relations, showcase how the partnership extends beyond performances to foster the next generation of creators, innovators and leaders. These opportunities prepare young people with skills that directly contribute to workforce development and economic vitality, while also strengthening the region’s cultural identity.
The culture that is brought to the region through ArtsQuest not only fuels creativity but also drives economic vitality, strengthens community bonds and inspires future generations. Together, Fulton Bank and ArtsQuest continue to shape a thriving Lehigh Valley where the arts are both celebrated and accessible to all.
Fulton Bank’s support didn’t stop at sponsorship; they also sent a team of eight Fulton Bank volunteers to help make this year’s record-breaking Musikfest a success, embodying their belief in giving back both financially and through community service. Musikfest 2025 was surely one for the record books, not just because of the incredible weather! Drawing 1,449,000 attendees from 49 states and 7 countries, Musikfest wouldn’t be possible without the help of the ~1,050 volunteers who donated their time and talent this year.
Together, Fulton Bank and ArtsQuest continue to prove that investing in the arts is an investment in the heart, soul and future of the Lehigh Valley.