Celebrate National Arts in Education Week with ArtsQuest!

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. September 8, 2025 – It’s National Arts in Education Week! The arts are essential for a complete education, empowering every individual to develop the critical thinking, collaborative and creative skills needed to thrive in today’s ever-changing world.

ArtsQuest joins Americans for the Arts in envisioning a country where everyone has access to and participates in high-quality learning experiences in the arts, both in schools and in the community. With a full lineup of free programs, teen opportunities and visual arts classes across the Lehigh Valley, ArtsQuest is proud to continue its mission of making the arts accessible to all.

ArtsQuest’s free fall programs bring families and community members together at the Bethlehem Visitor Center at SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health:

Toddler Storytime: Weekly reading, singing and movement with bilingual/Spanish sessions every second Thursday, presented with Bethlehem Area Public Library.
ALL ACCESSible: A tactile, hands-on way to experience art with Mallory Zondag’s Sensory Art/Living Art Exhibition and Touch Collection. Additionally, a specialized art-making activity is facilitated by an Art Therapy student intern.
Teen Takeover: Teens explore careers in the arts, work with professional artists and design their own showcase event.

In partnership with the Bethlehem Area School District, ArtsQuest also offers ArtSmart, a dynamic afterschool enrichment program for elementary and middle school students. Led by professional teaching artists from ArtsQuest’s roster, ArtSmart gives students the chance to complete original projects, discover new techniques and build confidence in their creativity. Each session culminates in a public exhibition at the ArtsQuest Center during First Friday, celebrating the young artists’ work within the community.

Beyond free programs, ArtsQuest offers dozens of affordable art classes and workshops this fall across Bethlehem and Allentown while the new ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL is under construction. Highlights include:

Ceramics: beginner to advanced wheel throwing, handbuilding and themed projects.
Painting & Drawing: watercolor, portrait painting, still life, plein air, cartooning and anime for all ages.
Fiber Arts & Jewelry: needle-felting, embroidery, polymer clay jewelry and bookmaking.
Wine’d Down Workshops: creative, guided art experience paired with a relaxing night out.

A full schedule is available at https://www.artsquest.org/visual-arts/classes/.

In addition, ArtsQuest is proud to host signature annual programs that highlight the impact of arts education in performance:

Music Industry Day: where aspiring artists and students gain insights from professionals across the music business.
Levitt Masterclasses: opportunities for students to spend time with ArtsQuest performers, as visiting artists lead a masterclass or performance and then welcome students to the Levitt Pavilion for a live concert experience.
High School Jazz Band Showcase: sponsored by KingSpry, the jazz band showcase celebrates student musicians from across the region with a live performance competition.

To ensure everyone can participate, ArtsQuest offers scholarship assistance for youth and adults based on financial need. Applications are available in both English and Spanish, reinforcing ArtsQuest’s mission to keep the arts accessible to all.

From toddlers discovering the joy of story time, to students creating original artwork, to teens exploring creative careers and adults finding new hobbies and outlets, ArtsQuest’s arts education programs reflect the power of the arts to inspire and connect. Celebrate National Arts Education Week with us by taking part in these programs – or simply by making creativity part of your week!

For more information about upcoming programs, classes and scholarships, visit https://www.artsquest.org/visual-arts/.

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.