ARTS Oil City

Oil City Arts Revitalization * Artist Relocation Program

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Watch: 
Relocation – Oil City Pennsylvania
www.youtube.com/thelatonia
www.youtube.com/dittman07

Read:
Art Calendar March, 2008 
Ten Great Towns for Working Artists Cover Story
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/24/eveningnews/main3964998.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7379940.stm
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/PainAtThePump/story?id=5033702&page=1  

Oil City, PA, birthplace of the oil industry and former headquarters of Standard Oil, Quaker State, and Pennzoil, is a town in northwestern Pennsylvania built by millionaires -- and abandoned ten years ago for the richer oilfields of Texas.  It is in the process of re-inventing itself, and the core of a lively and committed arts community is growing in Oil City's distinctive turn-of-the-century buildings.  With urban markets in Erie, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo in easy reach, more and more artists are becoming small-town transplants -- and small towns like Oil City are becoming vibrant centers of creativity.

"I moved to Oil City in 1996 because I could buy a house here for less than a year's rent in Boston -- and because I found a great combination of small town living and city amenities here," says Joann Wheeler, the artist who is heading up the Oil City arts revitalization effort.  "The area boasts an airport, a new regional medical center, safe schools, a branch campus of Clarion University, fine community theaters, a thriving music scene, excellent libraries, beautiful, affordable Victorian homes, and a well-equipped arts center and gallery, all in a breathtaking rural setting of wooded hills and pristine waterways."

        
     National Transit Building and Annex                              Transit Art Gallery                                               Victorian home in Oil City

• We're transforming space in the historic National Transit Building and Annex into an arts incubator with museum, teaching, exhibition/retail and studio space.          

• We've changed zoning laws to accommodate live-work-gallery space in our gracious Victorian homes.

• We're working on artist relocation incentives:  a 100% financing package to help working artists and arts-related businesses who relocate here get off to a good start. 

• We're offering business support in the marketing of art, small business principles, and e-marketing.

• We're building on established local festivals and developing new arts-centered events --
  
  and we're looking for working artists to join us here!

If your dream is to live and create in a small, artist-friendly town --
let us hear from you!  Click here for links to artists working here now!

Email for more information, and put the words "artist relocation" in your subject line.
Or leave a message at 814-676-5303.  Or come visit and let us show you around! 

Please give us a few business days' notice and some idea of what you are looking for, so that we can help you accomplish as much as possible while you are here!
 

What's News in the Arts?
Arts Revitalization/Artist Relocation Program Press


          First Night Oil City 2008                      National Transit Express (photo H. Jarzenski-Berlin)                   Thimble plays in Pipeline Alley

The Derrick 6-11-08  Summer Saturdays:  Seneca Street Fairs Begin
The Derrick 5-24-08  Ashton Whipple Featured at the Howling Dog
The Derrick 5-20-08  Arts Get Boost in Oil City Council
The Derrick 5-17-08  Musician Jerome Wincek on the music scene in Venango County
The Derrick 5-14-08  Second Annual Indie Songwriters Festival Planned
The Derrick 4-10-08 Venango native Jim Self composes first piece for symphony orchestra
The Derrick 4-05-08  Artist Marge Mitcham's work featured in Columbus exhibit
Art Calendar March 2008  Ten Great Towns for Working Artists Cover Story
The Derrick 3-24-08  Franklin Artist Deac Mong's Historical Painting to be Unveiled
The Derrick 3-03-08  Governor honors late master craftsman Eugene Monrean
The Derrick 2-22-08  Oil City in Top 10 Art Towns
The Derrick 2-18-08 Oil Country Bluegrass Festival  Draws Musicians, Crowds
The Derrick 2-09-08  Buzz over the Arts Movement Continues to Grow
The Derrick 2-02-08  Landmark Latonia Theater Re-opens

Archive


       Phil Wilson (center) in the Transit Gallery    Artist Charlie Whipple relocates from Alaska     Purchase of Jamestown Art Center              

 © Joann Wheeler, 2006, 2007