Petition to Mayor Tuerk to Make Sweeping Changes to the Allentown Arts Commission

June 29, 2023

Dear Mayor Tuerk,

The Artists of Allentown agree that the Allentown Arts Commission is and has for many years, been completely out of touch with the needs of working artists of the city and call for major changes to the Arts Commission.

This current Arts Commission lacks leadership, vision & direction. A vast majority of the commissioners do not attend community events, communicate with local artists, or are involved with the local art community in any meaningful way. There's no way they could understand the nuanced needs of the artists they're tasked to support and advocate for.

Some of the continuous ongoing issues local artists have faced:

• A lack of response when reaching out with inquiries.

• No ability to submit for project funding.

• Next to no social media presence supporting the local art community.

• No resources made available for local artists to access artist calls, event schedules, etc.

• Clear favoritism to specific artists, some of whom are from out of state.

Major recent issues:

• Cancellation of May Arts Commission meeting without making a public announcement. Several local artists attempted to attend the meeting to voice concerns and were unable to do so due to a lack of meeting. This commission banks on local artists not paying attention or being involved so they can push their own agenda.

• An attempt to move the monthly Arts Commission meetings to 7 AM is clearly an attempt to cater to executives and corporate schedules. This is not a conducive way to organize artistic endeavors.

• After contacting several Arts Commissioners, it seems there's no application currently to join the Arts Commission. Applications should be available even if the Commission is full.

Section 12-34 of Ordinance # 12531 states: "The Mayor may remove any or all members of the Commission for official misconduct or neglect of duty and may fill any vacancy for any expired term with the approval and consent of Council."

A vast majority of what the Allentown Arts Commission has been doing, or frankly not doing, more than qualifies for neglect of duty.

Due to these issues, the Artists of Allentown request to have the current Chairperson of the Allentown Arts Commission removed immediately as well as a thorough analysis of the remaining Commissioners to determine their functionality moving forward.

We also request the removal of at least TWO other current Commissioners, of the Mayor's choosing, to allow working artists the opportunity to submit an application to join the Arts Commission. Many of these current Commissioners are redundant and inactive, not even representing the needs of their own organizations.

These important commissioner seats would be better served if held by artists who have a vested interest in seeing a functional art community in the City of Allentown that works for the artists, organizations & residents alike. These seats should be held by those who are active in the community and have their finger on the pulse of the arts. The artists want to be involved but the current Arts Commission has made it incredibly difficult to do so.

We recommend that the City of Allentown budget for a Full-Time Art & Culture Director, which should be a paid position, so that someone is officially overseeing the needs of artists & arts organizations on a regular basis. The Arts Commission should continue to serve as an advisory board and work in tandem with the Art & Culture Director.

As it currently stands, working artists cannot sustain themselves from the sales of their art in Allentown, largely due to a lack of support from those entrusted with resources to support the arts. This has caused a mass exodus of artists from Allentown over the last few years, who seek opportunities elsewhere. Yet the commission will spend tens of thousands of dollars on large scale murals in the shopping district, often going to out of state artists. There's no other conclusion than this is being done to trick visitors that Allentown is supportive of the arts.

The truth is Allentown ignores its artists.

Allentown has a rich array of unique creators that with the right cultivation, could turn Allentown into a creative hub that artists from around the world seek out because of its vibrant creative spirit and bountiful resources for artists. 

Artists shape society and we will have a say in how our tax dollars allocated to the arts are spent.

Please consider making sweeping changes to the Allentown Arts Commission so we can help uplift Allentown through the Arts.

Sincerely,

The Artists of Allentown

City of Allentown, PA Allentown Arts Commission: § 12-30 Creation and composition.

[Adopted 12-15-1982 by Ord. No. 12531 (Article 165 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances)]

§ 12-30 Creation and composition.

There is created, to be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of Council, an Allentown Arts Commission to consist of 15 members.

§ 12-31 Powers and duties.

[Amended 7-1-1992 by Ord. No. 13138]

The Allentown Arts Commission shall promote and encourage public artistic programs; further, the development and public awareness of and interest in the fine and performing arts; provide for the assessment of the artistic needs of the community; provide the means for the development of a comprehensive Citywide plan to encourage and strengthen artistic and cultural resources; develop programs in the arts which shall seek to introduce the visual and performing arts to City residents who have previously not participated in such activities and encourage existing organizations to develop new ways of reaching the community; provide a forum of communications between representatives of the community and the City; act as an advisory board to the City in all matters pertaining to the arts and the cultural development of the City and give approval to specific locations of all art objects given to the City placed in the Allentown Park System or on other City property.

§ 12-32 Qualifications of members.

Said members shall be representatives of business, education, artistic, governmental and civic communities of the City of Allentown, and shall include one employee of the Mayor's Office and one employee of the Allentown Community and Economic Development Department.

§ 12-33 Terms.

The initial terms of the first 15 members shall be as follows: Five members shall serve until the first Monday of January 1984; five members shall serve until the first Monday of January 1985; and five members shall serve until the first Monday of January 1986. Their successors shall be appointed on the expiration of their expected terms to serve five years.

§ 12-34 Removal and vacancy.

The Mayor may remove any or all members of the Commission for official misconduct or neglect of duty and may fill any vacancy for any expired term with the approval and consent of Council.

§ 12-35 Rules and regulations.

Subject to the approval of the Mayor and Council, the Allentown Arts Commission may enact its own rules and regulations pertaining to the carrying out of its duties.

§ 12-36 Annual report.

[Amended 6-2-2010 by Ord. No. 14800]

The Allentown Arts Commission shall annually prepare a written report of the year's activities, a one-year plan and long-term goals and scenarios to enhance the City's art programs and facilities using a template provided by City Council. The report shall be given to the Mayor and Allentown School Board, and shall be presented to Allentown City Council at a public meeting.