One of the most essential pieces of not only bringing creatives into a neighborhood but keeping them there is housing. Affordable housing. Two organizations on opposite sides of the state are tackling this problem and making their communities stronger in the process.

From live music to chainsaws, Pennsylvania's unique annual festivals celebrate everything under the sun. They also boost their communities, increase local pride, and showcase the host area for a wide swath of new people. The economic benefits redound throughout the year. In this latest episode, we're joined by representatives from Bethlehem's Musikfest and the Ridgway's Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous.

Chester, PA is a small city of over 30,000 nestled along the Delaware River southwest of Philadelphia. It’s a place with a long history. It was incorporated in 1682 and is home to the Chester Courthouse, the oldest existing public building in the United States. It experienced an industrial boom driven by shipyards and manufacturing, followed by periods of unrest and divestment. As you’ll hear in this conversation, it it was also a key site of protest during the civil rights movement.

Chester these days is an inflection point. Outside investment in a professional soccer stadium and waterfront casino have brought people to town, but even more importantly, a group of artists and small business owners have spent decades reimagining Overtown, a part of the city that now boasts galleries, shops restaurants, and performance spaces — almost all of which are locally owned. Today, we’re joined by Devon Walls and L. Ward, two architects of Chester’s Arts and Culture District. They talk about the area’s evolution and how they are working to make sure the city maintains its authentic, creative heart. 

In our first episode of season two, we’re heading west to Pittsburgh where The Andy Warhol Museum is expanding its mission and its footprint. The treasured cultural institution is spearheading the POP District, an initiative that encompasses everything from a live music venue and co-working spaces, to workforce development programs and public art. To talk about the challenges and the incredible promise of this effort, we’re joined by Dan Law, associate director of The Warhol, and Mikael Owunna, a local professional artist.

Season 2 of Prism begins in October! Catch up on previous episodes here and/or get more info on Keystone Edge.

Pennsylvania's film industry employs almost 10,000 people in the Pittsburgh region. From the Dark Knight Rises to Netflix series Mindhunter, to an upcoming Ethan Cohen movie, groundbreaking entertainment is being created in southwestern PA.

And then there is Lancaster County. Eighty percent of the Billboard top 100 tours were built out and conceptualized at Rock Lititz, a conglomeration of companies and creatives that have created a mecca for the event production sector.

These industries have taken root in PA, and they are growing economic engines. But that does not happen on its own. People need to be trained for these careers and they need to know that well-paying jobs in these dynamic fields exist close to home.

Taking center stage to discuss these issues are Rachel Hales from Rock Lititz and Dawn Keezer from the Pittsburgh Film Office. Both women have built careers in film and event production, and are helping bring the next generation aboard.

Pennsylvania once boasted one of the most powerful industrial economies in the world. Steel, textiles, glass, cars, matchbooks — all were made right here in the Commonwealth in large factories that anchored small towns and big cities alike. As we all know, during the 20th century, things changed. Manufacturing moved elsewhere. Mills closed. Jobs were lost. Populations shifted. 

But many of those buildings are still here. Erected by craftspeople using materials that are made to last, the state’s industrial infrastructure is an essential part of its legacy, but also its future. In this episode, we spoke with Patrick Quinn from the Center for Metal Arts in Johnstown and Justin Genzlinger, owner and CEO of Settlers Hospitality Group in the Pocono Mountain region. They are inspiring examples of how the state's history can be both recaptured and reimagined.

Arts are a driver of growth and vitality — that's the argument being made by economic development and local government leaders across Pennsylvania. In a lively conversation, we heard from two such folks, one from Erie County and one from York County, about how their communities support, fund, and catalyze the creative sector, and how that work is paying unexpected dividends. 

In this episode, we’re talking about immigrants — artists who came from abroad to make Pennsylvania their home. Through their work, these two men are enriching their communities and adding to the commonwealth's bounty of public art.

This episode covers Pennsylvania’s flourishing games industry. We’ve come a long way since the days of the arcade, and so has this fascinating field, which runs the gamut from large institutional degree programs to boutique video game designers.