The Allentown Art Museum is pleased to share that it is one of more than a dozen community organizations in the Lehigh Valley to receive an award from the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) Local Share Account (LSA) grants program. The award was announced by Senator Nick Miller of the 14th Senatorial District. The $855,000 grant will support the design development phase of the Museum’s new building at Tenth and Hamilton streets, enabling the Museum to refine the design and prepare for construction.
“We are grateful to Senator Miller and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for their support of our new-building project and the arts in general,” says Max Weintraub, President and CEO of the Allentown Art Museum. “This LSA grant will help advance the Museum toward a modern, accessible, and efficient facility that better serves the community. The project will be an important part of downtown Allentown’s ongoing revitalization—expanding access to arts education, supporting local communities, and catalyzing the Museum’s role as a cultural and civic anchor.”
“The Allentown Art Museum has been a cornerstone of culture and the arts in downtown Allentown for nearly seventy years, and this investment is helping build its next chapter,” says Senator Nick Miller. “This project will advance the design of a new Museum that can showcase more exhibitions and create an enhanced experience for visitors. This is an important step toward a Museum built for the future.”
The Museum announced its move from its current location at Fifth and Linden streets to its new location in April 2025. The transformative project will create a free, purpose-built cultural destination and enable the Museum to continue its momentum of serving larger audiences. Importantly, the new building will improve access for nearby residents—over 50,000 people live within 1 mile, including 40 percent of Allentown School District students—helping integrate the Museum more fully into the fabric of daily life downtown.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” says Weintraub. “Our visitation, programming, and collection are all thriving, and our existing facility can no longer support the expanding needs of a modern museum. I’m extremely grateful that our Board, the City, and the Commonwealth all have the vision to support this exciting project. Together, we’re building a new Museum that will serve the Lehigh Valley for generations to come.”
ABOUT THE ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM
The Allentown Art Museum is the premier arts institution in the Lehigh Valley, housing a collection of more than 20,000 works and offering dynamic public education and engagement programs. Since eliminating admission fees in 2022, the Museum has become a vital cultural resource for the community, fostering creativity, inclusion, and lifelong learning. For more information, please visit AllentownArtMuseum.org.