In 1988, an unexpected inheritance from a beloved aunt sparked Linda and David Dyson’s lifelong connection to the arts. While attending the Downtown Bethlehem Mother’s Day Fine Art & Craft Show, the couple met artist Dane Tilghman and were captivated by one of his screen prints, All That Jazz. They purchased it on the spot.
More than three decades later, the artwork still hangs in their home.
“It’s been on three different walls over the years,” Linda said. “Always admired, it has been a delightful remembrance and thank you to my aunt.”
That purchase marked the beginning of their passion for collecting art and connecting with the artists who create it. A few years later, the couple encountered Tilghman again at Christkindlmarkt and added another of his works to their home collection.
The Dysons also formed connections with artists like Gini Illick, a Banana Factory resident artist until 2011, and found joy in hearing firsthand about the inspiration, style and passion behind each piece. As they describe it, these moments were “educational eye candy,” deepening both their understanding and appreciation, which only continued to grow.
Their connection to the arts is not only through collecting, admiring and learning. In the early years of Musikfest, the Dysons volunteered their time, experiencing firsthand the energy and community spirit that define the festival. That commitment became a family tradition, as their daughters also became Musikfest volunteers.
Founded in 1984, Musikfest began as a spark of hope for Bethlehem and has grown into the nation’s largest non-gated music festival. Today, under ArtsQuest, that vision extends year-round, generating significant cultural and economic impact across the region – contributing more than $192 million in economic impact to the Lehigh Valley in 2025.
For the Dysons, that impact is both tangible and personal. Longtime supporters of ArtsQuest, they have witnessed its evolution from early festivals to transformative initiatives like SteelStacks, Save Our Songs and the Banana Factory.
“ArtsQuest’s positive impact on our region’s economic growth is one of the major reasons for our commitment,” they said. “We trust ArtsQuest because of their remarkable history of producing so many wonderful high-quality venues.”
Now that they are helping shape the future through their support of the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, slated for a soft opening this fall, their contribution includes the Dyson Family Artist Studio, a space designed to foster creativity, collaboration and opportunity for artists.
“The Banana Factory was a place where the visual arts came alive because it allowed us to encounter many artists through visits to their studios,” they said. “Our home is full of artwork from some of those original artists…We are excited for the next chapter with the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL… a wonderful opportunity for more artists to share their gifts with many more people. This is a true win/win!”
For the Dysons, their decades of support reflect a belief that investing in the arts today strengthens the community for generations to come.
“We firmly believe ArtsQuest is one of the key ingredients of why Bethlehem is a thriving city,” they said.
And for anyone inspired to be part of this journey, they offer a simple but powerful message: “We believe bearing fruit always begins with sowing seeds. The individual contribution, whether small or large, is like a seed that will grow and produce fruit that others in the next generations will benefit from. Who we become as a community depends on what we do today. Sow a seed!”
Through their continued support, the Dysons are helping ensure that artists can thrive, audiences can be inspired and the community continues to grow as a vibrant, creative place for generations to come.