Art Association of Harrisburg

The Art Association of Harrisburg strives to promote the visual arts through education and exhibitions in the Central PA Region. The Art Association's goal is to reach as wide an audience as possible, providing art classes for youth and adults, and showcasing artists' works from the Region, across the US, and from other countries. Through our work we aim to enhance the quality of life for residents of Harrisburg and the surrounding region.

The Art Association of Harrisburg promotes our art classes and exhibitions through a wide variety of venues, including the AAH website, Facebook, direct mail, print ads, emailed press releases, mass emails, billboards, and TV promotions. The Board and staff work together to promote The Art Association and its many programs to the community so that the maximum number of individuals can benefit from the AAH classes and exhibitions.

The Association attempts to work collaboratively with other organizations in order to reach wider audiences. Currently we are organizing 15 or more Community Shows annually which take place in public venues throughout the region, allowing us to promote more local artists to a wider community audience. Additionally, since 1988 AAH has organized the Annual Gallery Walk, a citywide free walking/driving tour of all the exhibition sites. Gallery Walk is a mammoth promotion of the visual arts in the City of Harrisburg, organized yearly by the Art Association.

The Art Association of Harrisburg staff is extremely knowledgeable about the visual art world, and specifically local and regional artists. Staff also act as cultural concierges, promoting local cultural attractions and restaurants to the many tourists who visit the centrally located gallery.

Staff are well versed in the use of social media, the Internet, as well as traditional press releases and direct mail pieces, including a glossy quarterly newsletter magazine, all very important in letting the community know of the Association's many exhibitions, classes and other cultural programs. Additionally, the AAH Board Members serve as informal "ambassadors" to keep the community informed of events and programs.

Another strength is the enthusiasm of the AAH patron base, who host Soirees to showcase artists' works and to raise funds, and who invite their own friends and colleagues to attend AAH special events.

The downtown location of the Association's historic mansion headquarters, right on the riverfront, is also a benefit in reaching the public.

The Art Association has accomplished a number of significant capital improvements and upgrades for our historic building in recent years including repainting classrooms and installing LED track lighting in the galleries, all of which enhance the experience of visitors and students.

The Association is constantly engaged in efforts to recruit more members for the organization, and more students for our classes. We are currently developing new classes including ones in art therapy, as well as using recycled materials.

Recently we have greatly increased the Art Association's outreach in the community by adding our Community Shows (15 or more annually) which feature local artists showing their work in public and community venues, allowing these artists to reach a wider audience outside of the traditional gallery venue.