Alvernia University companions with ReadingFilmFEST to broaden artwork choices for the Reading and larger Berks County neighborhood. The college’s college students, school and employees will present enterprise consulting providers by the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship’s student-powered entrepreneurial lab.“Creating a vibrant arts setting downtown is a necessary facet of the Reading CollegeTowne technique,” mentioned Alvernia University President John R. Loyack. “The renaissance of downtown gained’t attain its full potential till we’re celebrating the native cultures by the humanities.”In early 2021, ReadingFilmFEST grew to become its personal entity, establishing a board of administrators and an advisory council, together with previous contributors, organizers, and neighborhood leaders. The partnership will permit Alvernia college students to assist this transition by aiding the movie pageant improve its marketing strategy and advertising methods for its varied programming.“Arts is the spine of life-long studying, important to the way forward for the college and can assist result in the improved financial growth of the area,” mentioned Vice President, Interim Dean of the College of STEAM & Chief Operating Officer O’Pake Institute for Economic Development & Entrepreneurship Rodney Ridley. “We sit up for serving to to create an arts-enhanced look that represents the tradition of Reading, and I’m excited for my new function as a member of the advisory council.”Now in its seventh yr, the pageant continues to assist rising filmmakers, improve native artwork tradition and encourage spending in the local people. The group just lately introduced a $35,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to assist the pageant’s growth initiatives, together with manufacturing, advertising and promotion and year-round administrative bills.“ReadingFilmFEST is inspired by the unified assist and collaboration throughout the neighborhood to construct a extra strong, extra vibrant Reading post-COVID,” mentioned Reading Film Festival Executive Director Cammie Harris. “Our focus as a brand new nonprofit is to create an much more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive movie neighborhood and we thank Alvernia for his or her dedication to this imaginative and prescient.”The O’Pake entrepreneurial lab has already served over 50 purchasers since its launch final yr and continues to assist new companies navigate the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.O’Pake serves because the catalyst for academic and enterprise growth in middle metropolis Reading. In addition to the partnership with the Reading Film Festival, O’Pake has secured partnerships with SCORE Berks Schuylkill Chapter, Lehigh Valley Angel Investors, Kutztown University’s Small Business Development Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, in addition to the institute’s preliminary group of sponsors, Pepsi®, Customers Bank, the Wyomissing Foundation, RKL, LLP, Visions Federal Credit Union and the Berks Alliance.In January, Alvernia began a $20 million renovation challenge on its newly acquired constructing at 401 Penn Street, which can function the hub of Reading CollegeTowne, a strategic mannequin for financial growth in downtown. The downtown location, the place the brand new O’Pake choices will function, is slated to open in August 2021.
Alvernia Partners with ReadingFilmFEST | BCTV
