In 2022, Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts (ARCA) celebrates 16 years of presenting inspiring music and art in the beautiful Allegheny-Clarion River Valley. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2004 in Foxburg, PA, ARCA’s provides stimulating and enriching professional arts and education programs, touching the lives of thousands of people living in the six-county, Allegheny Valley Region – Clarion, Venango, Armstrong, Butler, Mercer and Crawford counties – thereby contributing to the economic growth, vitality and quality of life in the Region. ARCA provides an annual series of concerts and events in various idioms, including classical music recitals, chamber music, jazz, popular and Celtic music; Wurlitzer Theatre Organ concerts; cabaret; dance; drama; literature; film and visual arts. Fine arts exhibits are presented in The Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop on Main Street in downtown Foxburg. Concerts are presented in Foxburg at Lincoln Hall - ARCA’s home; The Episcopal Memorial Church of Our Father; the Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School Auditorium; and on the grounds of RIverStone Farm. Also in Foxburg, the Pittsburgh Symphony Brass performs at Christmas in the Church of our Father; Attack Theatre and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra have performed in the A-C Valley Schools. Since 2014, ARCA has presented concerts in Emlenton’s Crawford Center, including River City Brass, Beatles Tribute Band, Billy Price and Pure Gold. The popular annual Madrigal Dinner performs at the Wolf’s Den in Knox. ARCA’s first performance season was inaugurated in 2006 in its home, the recently restored Lincoln Hall performance space located atop the Foxburg Free Library, built in 1909. Lincoln Hall has retained its nineteenth and early twentieth century charm with many authentic design features, as well as an original hand painted stage curtain that now serves as the stage backdrop. Lincoln Hall houses the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, and a seven-foot Steinway grand piano graces its stage. Internationally renowned performers have included the Alexander String Quartet, Violinist Andres Cardenes, theatre organist David Wickerham, Chatham Baroque, Pittsburgh Symphony chamber musicians and Pianists David Allen Wehr, Cynthia Raim, Alec Chien, Frederick Moyer, Gayle Martin and Nathan Carterette. Popular musical attractions have included Shane Alexander, Benny Benack Jr. and Benny Benack III, The Allegheny Drifters, Akropolis Reeds, Tom Roberts & the Allegheny City Ragtime Orchestra, Bob Milne, and Cabaret singers Dane Vannatter, Judi Figel, Daphne Alderson, Tania Grubbs and Lisa Bleil. ARCA is grateful for its support from its Membership and businesses in the Allegheny River Valley, and for grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Northwest Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau. For information on becoming a member, http://www.alleghenyriverstone.org or 724 659-3153.
