EASTON, Pa. — ArtsQuest’s festivals, concerts and programs drew nearly 1.72 million people in 2023 — setting a record, the organization’s president told a Northampton County Council committee Thursday.
MusikFest, the massive downtown and South Side Bethlehem music festival held each August, alone drew more than 1.3 million people, ArtsQuest Chief Executive Officer Kassie Hilgert said.
Last year’s edition of the free festival brought “all-time record-breaking attendance, all-time record-breaking revenue, all-time record-breaking expenses,” she said. “So everything went up.”
Nearly all of the organization’s marquee festivals grew compared with last year.
Its Christkindlmarkt Christmas market led the pack with 10% more attendees in 2023 than in 2022. Only Oktoberfest saw attendance decline from 2022 levels, which Hilgert attributed to rain during both Saturdays of the festival.
“Some people think sometimes that's money coming into ArtsQuest. That's the exact opposite. It's the money that goes out into the community and the investment that happens because of that programming.”Kassie Hilgert, ArtsQuest CEO
In all, Hilgert said ArtsQuest generated more than $132 million of economic activity and 2,200 jobs for the region, calculated using a formula from industry group Americans for the Arts.
The lion’s share — $84.4 million — came from Musikfest.
“Some people think sometimes that's money coming into ArtsQuest,” Hilgert said. “That's the exact opposite. It's the money that goes out into the community and the investment that happens because of that programming.”
Cultural center, event space need funds
ArtsQuest still is raising funds to build a new cultural centerto replace The Banana Factory, home to the nonprofit’s visual arts program, glass studio and much of its programming.
“Those buildings are falling down,” Hilgert said of the aging complex on Third Street in South Bethlehem. “The cultural center is our first priority. We absolutely need it.”
So far, ArtsQuest has raised $18.3 million toward the new building, about $5 million short of enough to begin construction, Hilgert said.
Another major project — renovating the old Bethlehem Steel turn and grind shop into an event space — is about $6.5 million short of its $15 million goal, she said.
Northampton County has pledged funds to both projects and awarded a $60,000 grant for last year’s Musikfest.
