2O23 Impact Report
Welcome from Our Executive Director It’s an honor to reflect on a year of profound creativity and community engagement. In a world where the arts have never been more essential, GoggleWorks has stood as a beacon of creativity and transformation in our region. This year, we’ve witnessed the remarkable power of art to unite, heal, and empower individuals and our community. We added new staff, board, and audience members, and broke ground on the Art Park, a major expansion of our shared vision for downtown Reading. Our journey has been filled with both challenges and triumphs. With our partners and supporters, we navigated the complexities of a changing world, continually adapting to bring high-quality, accessible art programs to tens of thousands in our region. Each endeavor has been a step towards realizing our mission – to transform lives through unique interactions with art. This report is a celebration of our collective achievements and a testament to the unwavering spirit of our artists, educators, volunteers, donors, and community partners. Your support has been the cornerstone of our success, fueling our mission and enabling us to reach new heights. We invite you to explore the stories and milestones within these pages, each illustrating the impactful role GoggleWorks plays in the cultural landscape. As we look to the future, we are filled with hope and excitement for the endless possibilities that lie ahead in our artistic journey. Thank you for helping to craft a beautiful future.
Levi Landis Executive Director
About GoggleWorks GoggleWorks Center for the Arts transforms lives through unique interactions with art. GoggleWorks is a nonprofit cultural campus headquartered in a former goggle factory comprising nearly an entire city super-block bustling with the arts. The brainchild of trustee Marlin Miller and the late co-founders Albert Boscov and Irv Cohen, alongside a founding group of other volunteers and artists, Goggleworks opened in 2005. Today, GoggleWorks serves over 250,000 visitors and participants through year-round arts education, including workshops, classes, and visiting artists; community outreach programs; a summer residency; youth programs and summer camps. Our campus boasts 35 on-site studio artists; the Albert and Eunice Boscov theater; three premier galleries for exhibitions; the New Store, the Berks Launchbox maker space; and 16 communal learning environments including those dedicated to ceramics; wood; printmaking; hot, warm, and cold glass; metals; textiles; photography; virtual reality; digital media; music; drawing and painting; and urban gardens. Admission and parking are free from 9am to 9pm daily.
Community Partnership Highlights Partnerships are critical to our vision of success. This year, partnerships improved the relevance and quality of our programs, and extended the reach and impact of our mission. We fought hunger with Opportunity House through the annual Souper Bowl event. We were able to “Picture Berks Healthy” with Berks Community Health Center and brought new artists and energy to the long-running Kutztown Folk Festival. We presented an exhibition of artwork from every school district with Berks County Intermediate Unit and brought handblown glass to Longwood Garden’s Christmas Show. We formalized our efforts in the immediate city community with the GoggleWorks Neighborhood Task Force, a coalition facilitated by the Wyomissing Foundation, highlighted in the centerfold of this report. While almost everything we do is a partnership of some kind, this is a brief list of partnership highlights from the past year.
GoggleWorks Gardens at Lauer’s Park A collaboration with Lauer’s Park Elementary and the Reading School District, this innovative partnership allows GoggleWorks to apply its interactive art studio model to the dynamic garden environment at Lauer’s Park, serving school children and community residents alike. This year the garden employed the only full-time farmer in Reading, expanded culinary classes, activated new volunteers, held a grief garden gathering, vended many market days, and distributed 1,000 pounds of food to the nearby community.
The Helping Harvest Annex at GoggleWorks GoggleWorks’ partner Our City of Reading announced a major new economic development effort to renovate the final warehouse on our campus as a STEAM center and food hub, expanding on our work marrying arts and culture with science, sustainability, education, and food access. The project will welcome the expanded headquarters and a teaching kitchen for Helping Harvest, the regional food bank, a new home for the Reading Science Center, an interactive museum, and new classrooms, studios, and artist housing for GoggleWorks.
Accredited College Art Classes Alvernia University and GoggleWorks announced a collaboration that launched accredited electives in 2023 and the introduction of an innovative four-year Bachelor of Arts in Creativity Program in 2024-25. The program will offer hands-on learning through Alvernia’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) at three different campus locations, including GoggleWorks campus and the new CollegeTowne extension of Alvernia in downtown Reading.
R3 Re-entry Program R3 is an 8-week registered pre-apprenticeship program in partnership with Berks Pre-trial Services, Habitat for Humanity of Berks and Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center offering career pathways for those leaving incarceration pursuing a career in woodworking, including hands-on learning at GoggleWorks’ woodworking studio. Of the many outcomes, the recidivism rate for participants is 3% compared to the state average of 46% in 2023.
Needs and Challenges Our community is vibrant, diverse, and extremely creative, but we face some remarkable challenges together. • Residents in our neighborhood have limited or unequal access to education, arts & cultural programs, job opportunities, food, and safe spaces. • In Reading High School, 83% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch more than 30,000 individuals in the city (over 35%) live in poverty and the average individual per capita income is just over $15,000 annually. • Over 75% of people come from conventionally marginalized groups, including over 65% from Hispanic/ LatinX ethnicities and 16% who are under age 65 with disabilities. There are large numbers of 1st and 2nd generation immigrants as well as refugees. • Disinvestment, safety concerns, and other challenges have slowed development in downtown Reading, PA and kept many opportunities away.
Programs GoggleWorks is a place to develop skills, ask questions, experiment freely, and investigate the human spirit. Through exceptional arts education and engaging community programming, we inspire people to expand the boundaries of art-making, personal growth, cross-cultural dialogue, and appreciation for material culture. Our programs are unique because they are Interactive, Place-Based, and Lifelong, falling into four basic categories:
Education Classes, workshops, youth programs, and scholarships offered over three terms, serving over 5,000 all-ages students and 10,000 schoolchildren in cross-disciplinary studios and unique learning environments.
Outreach Using art, we try to address tangible community problems, serving more than 20,000 through after school programs, creative placemaking and outdoor events, and other equitable programs.
Artist + Workforce Development Through exhibitions, commissions, studio rentals, artwork & gallery sales, residencies, mentorships, portfolio prep, passport programs, and career opportunities, we serve over 500 established, emerging, and student artists annually.
Visitor Experiences The art center serves over 250,000 total visitors on-site through interactive activities, tours, school groups, rentals, major events & conferences, community rentals, theatre, and the store. Outdoor experiences now serve more than 15,000 and we are opening a restaurant with DoubleTree by Hilton in 2024
Recognition
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CJ’S GoggleWorks Tire & Automotive Center for the Arts Best Best Tire Store WEDDING VENUE
We have over 800 5-star reviews on Google and Facebook, including some of these favorites:
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GoggleWorks is one of Berks County’s amazing places. The Center brings together artists, those curious about the arts and community members to grow and learn. I love it here!
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- Rachel R.
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High quality art exhibits, craft and art store, classes studios and more. All in a quirky setting, and old factory reimagined.
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I can’t say enough good things about this place…The teachers are warm and encouraging. It’s a real place of Community.
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- Martha R.
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- Stefanie R. The place is fascinating. We love the theater and the popcorn was very good. Clean and comfortable. - Dennis L.
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‘Fabulous’ is so overused, but not about GoggleWorks. Art, ceramics, glassblowing, and a state-of-the-art woodworking shop just scratches the surface. - Enigma Studio
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Great collective of artists and art with various styles.
- Juan R.
I had my wedding a little over two months ago and was absolutely astonished by how great GoggleWorks was…My only regret with this venue is not writing a stellar review earlier.
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- Kieun S.
What a treasure GoggleWorks is for everyone. Truly a wonderful art center. - Pam S.
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The GoggleWorks Art PArk
A Shared Vision The vision for our work is expanding. The Art Park is a transformative project to re-imagine roughly 3 acres of neglected city spaces surrounding our campus into publicly-accessible, culturallyvibrant greenspaces designed to advance safety and comfort, catalyze downtown revitalization, connect city assets, build community resilience, and drive cross-cultural dialogue and civic pride. By canvassing every door within a 7-block radius of our campus, we documented the needs of city residents and businesses and developed community coalition to design the park.
GoggleWorks Neighborhood Task Fo
Our community coalition formalized a steering committee called t Wyomissing Foundation, which joins our on-site partners in leading neighborhood planning and added anchor partners to its ranks: Ce United Way of Berks, Alvernia University, Reading Area Community Olivet Boys & Girls Club, and Our City Reading, developing new hea
Groundbreaking on Phase 1 This year, we held a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the Art Park, which will include new greenspaces, an outdoor cafe, two performance stages, and a restaurant operated by DoubleTree by Hilton Reading. We celebrated our commitment to community growth, unity, and sustainability with a “groundplanting” to seed vegetation into portable soil beds. Participating supporters included State and local governments and foundations. Mt Zion Baptist Church
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the “GoggleWorks Neighborhood Task Force,” supported and facilitated by the g this shared vision. This year, the group won a grant from the Regional Foundation for entro Hispano, City of Reading, Habitat for Humanity of Berks, Lauer’s Park Elementary, y College, Mt. Zion Baptist, Christ Episcopal, Berks County Community Foundation, adquarters on our campus for Helping Harvest and the Reading Science Center.
Financials Individual & Corporate Contributions
$330,468 Grants & Government
$253,673 Admissions & Program Fees
$1,245,314
Revenue
Admin & General
$564,956 Fundraising
$102,519 Programs & Services
$1,953,082
Expenses
US Equity Fixed Income
Investments
43.26% 29.09%
Non-US Equity 27.65%
Total
Value
$9.83 Million
Supporters We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each contributor listed below, whose generosity and belief in our mission have been vital to the flourishing of our art center and the community and audiences we serve.
$500,000-$1,000,000 County of Berks
City of Reading
$100,000-$250,000 Marlin and Ginger Miller
Sweet Street, Sandy Solmon & Doug Messinger
$10,000-$50,000 Tod and Chrissy Auman Berks County Community Foundation Jerry & Carolyn Holleran
Metropolitan Management Group Jay and Elaine Rosenson Fund Victor & Dena Hammel
$2,500-$9,999 Avalon Insurance Company Customers Bank Kimberton Whole Foods, Inc. Ann and John Mazzo Tompkins VIST Bank
David and Barbara Thun Truist Bank Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson & Ann Marie Hayes-Hawkinson First United Church of Christ/St. John’s UCC Funds
$1,000-$2,499 Susan Biebuyck Marshia & Peter Carlino Anna Dela Cruz Charles Farrell Fulton Bank Siah Hill
Immanuel United Church of Christ Barbara Kline Heidi & Jeremiah Sensenig Carol Siegel UPMC Health Plan
$1-$999 Kyle Bagenstose Brian Belskie, Jr. The Benevity Community Impact Fund Barry and Kay Bennecoff Karen and David Bensinger Ginnine Cocuzza Aprille Cole Kelly Gatto Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Christopher Gulotta Mark Kern Jan Knudsen Andrea Koinski Mary Kreider Gerald and Sydney Malick Sicily Masciotti
Ann and John Mazzo Janet McNaughton Eleisha Moreno Joni and David Naugle Justine Page Reading Berks Prom Reading Berks Guild of Craftsmen Dail and David Richie Larry and Alison Rotenberg Richard and Mindy Small Thomas Souders MaryAnn Stubbs Scott and Loretta Sullivan Karen Wilson Mary Alice Wotring Claire Young
leadership We are proud to acknowledge our dedicated team of professional staff and volunteer board leaders, each of whom plays a vital role in steering our organization towards success
Board Of Directors Tod Auman Chair Alissa Carlino Maritza Loaiza Paul Cohn Ann Marie Hayes-Hawkinson William Koch, Sr. Treasurer Thomas McMahon Marlin Miller Chair Emeritus Rick Olmos Fran Parzanese Edvard Philipson Quality Quinn Dail Richie Dr. Rodney Ridley Karen Rightmire Crystal Seitz Heidi Sensenig Sandy Solmon Vice Chair Stacey Taylor Kate Thornton Secretary Gust Zogas Chair Emeritus
New Board Member
StaFF Isabel Alcala
Margaret Pendleton
Devyn Briggs
Bri Shimer
Matt Brownlow
Chad Smith
Hailey Bryant
Jamie Smith
Alex Crawford
Joey Strain
Tess Doran
Lara Strunk
Milena Drouet
Chloe Theodosiou
Natalie Fenner
Emily Thiel
Jesse Futter
Ernest Tisdale
Polly Garwood
Nikki Vitchner
Suhyla Gohar
Alex Walmsley
Sara Rose Gonzalez
Tajon Whiten
Erica Hutchins
Tiana Zabala
Katie Johnsen Jon Jordan Scott Krenitsky Lauryn Lacis Levi Landis Paola Mateo Pilar Montanez Geri Nonnewitz Felix Ocasio Ronald Ohlinger
New Staff Member
Final Thoughts From Tod Auman, Outgoing Board Chair As my tenure as Board Chair of GoggleWorks comes to a close, I am filled with immense gratitude and pride. To the dedicated staff and board members, your unwavering commitment and passion have been the driving force behind our remarkable journey. Together, we have launched our impact and sustainability. We have grown outreach, workforce development, and educational programs while adding new staff, board, supporters, and studios. We navigated the challenges of an international pandemic and raised over $10 million for our endowment, a remarkable testament to the hard work and dedication of so many of you. I am also particularly proud of the strides we have made in expanding our vision through the development of the Art Park. This endeavor symbolizes not just our growth, but our commitment to fostering creativity and innovation in our community. I am excited that we welcomed a diverse slate of three new, remarkable Board members: Heidi Sensenig, Edvard Philipson, and Karen Rightmire. As I pass the baton to Sandy Solmon, I do so with utmost confidence and optimism. Her active leadership and expertise are exactly what GoggleWorks needs for its next chapter. As I continue as a GoggleWorks board member and volunteer, I extend my full support and encouragement as Sandy and the board steer this incredible organization toward new heights.
Sandy Solmon, Incoming Board Chair As I step into the role of Board Chair at GoggleWorks, I am honored to have been entrusted with this leadership role at a most pivotal time in our evolution. Moving fully beyond the walls of our building into the grounds, the adjacent area and the City of Reading at large as The Art Park leads us, will broaden our impact on the community in a fundamental way; an exciting way, and we are up to the challenge. We have the strongest, most active and most diverse board in the history of our organization, and this new “Entrepreneurial Era” will call on each of us to contribute the best of our talents and the most innovative of our thinking to execute on our promise. We are an organization that listens closely, welcomes ideas and is willing to discuss them, and I know our board meetings will be active and fun. I want to thank Tod Auman from the bottom of my heart, for the groundwork he laid during his chairmanship, especially in terms of navigating the pandemic and initiating an endowment. I am committed to building upon the strong base he has passed on to me and as well as the great bones and raw materials our founders Albie Boscov, Irv Cohen, and Marlin Miller (still active and committed), provided for us. Our Board is only as strong as its organization’s leadership, and in Levi Landis, our fearless leader and visionary CEO, and his strong team, GoggleWorks has the driving force, allowing us the privilege of thinking strategically and executing on big ideas alongside him. The outpouring of support from our political leaders, on the City, County, and State levels, is further evidence of the alignment of our stars. We know it is rare to have such alignment across all aspects of our broader “community” and we will make them proud. As I embrace this new responsibility I will ensure Goggleworks flourishes and continues to redefine what it means to be a dynamic and impactful force in the arts. Let’s all make this happen.
Transforming Lives Through Unique Interactions with Art.
201 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601 610.374.4600 | goggleworks.org