Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Begins 25th Anniversary Celebration 7/17, 7/18

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust kicks off its 25th anniversary on Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, 2009. The weekend includes a series of special events and projects to mark the Trust's work in transforming Downtown Pittsburgh from a blighted neighborhood into a nationally recognized model of urban transformation through the arts. The celebration will continue throughout the fall, culminating with The Cultural Trust's First Night Pittsburgh on December 31, 2009.

Suzanne W. Broadhurst, a trustee of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and chairperson of the Trust's 25th Anniversary Committee says, "Pittsburgh's Cultural District is one of the greatest comeback stories of Pittsburgh. What once was a rundown, seedy section of the city is now the heartbeat of Downtown Pittsburgh, thanks to the work and dedication of the Cultural Trust."

"With the great publicity Pittsburgh has received recently in the national media, along with the anticipation of the G-20 Summit, headquartered at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in the Cultural District," notes J. Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, "this is a great time to showcase how Pittsburgh has reinvented itself, not only through education and the healthcare sectors, but through the power of the arts."

Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust originated with the vision of H. J. ("Jack") Heinz II who had a simple theory: the arts can play a leading role in transforming Downtown Pittsburgh and a former red light district into an arts center, spurring cultural activity throughout the region.

Using the arts as a catalyst for urban revitalization and economic development, the Trust has succeeded in securing Pittsburgh's standing as a unique world-class center for arts and entertainment. Today, the vibrant Cultural District-which is anchored by the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and Point State Park, bordered by the Allegheny River and Liberty Avenue-attracts over 2,000,000 people to Downtown Pittsburgh annually. District activity generates an economic impact of $303 million-proof that Jack Heinz's dream continues to come to life under the Trust's leadership and direction.

The schedule of events as follows. For a more detailed description of events, please visit pgharts.org or call 412-456-6666.

ONGOING
Cultural District Walking Tour
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will launch this unique walking tour which highlights 25 venues and sites throughout the Cultural District. Each location features before-and-after images demonstrating the transformation of the District. Visitors can learn about each site using 1) a new Cultural District map, 2) Guide-by-Cell tour and/or 3) new Quick Reference Technology for Smart Phones.

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2009
Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District
5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public

Featuring 25 different locations and over 75 participating artists: highlights include North American debut of new works by Henrik Menne, Marnix de Nijs, and Edwin van der Heide at Wood Street Galleries; Brooklyn-based Luminescent Orchestrii performing at SPACE; JazzLive Summer Stage with Jevon Rushton Group; Johnny Blas Latin Orchestra at Katz Plaza and more.

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2009
Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh
The Rooftop of Theater Square
8:00 p.m. - VIP Party ($100 tickets in advance; $125 at the door)
9:00 p.m. - ($35 tickets for Trust members in advance or $50 for non-members; $75 at the door)

The third annual summer rooftop party celebrates 25 years of the Trust and features an array of food, desserts and creative cocktails from the Cultural District's best restaurants; a sensorial journey created by Bricolage; as well as dancing until midnight under the downtown lights with DJ Edgar UM

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2009
Summer Kids Crawl in the Cultural District
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Free and open to the public

Highlights include performances by Pittsburgh CLO Academy, Umoja African Arts Dance Company, Gateway to the Arts / River City Percussion Duo, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; activities with the Carnegie Science Museum, Pennsylvania Culinary School, Pittsburgh Children's Museum, and Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium; meet-and-greet with Mr. McFeely and Iceburgh; soul line dancing, face-painting, puppet-making; and Eurobungy!

 

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