ABOUT
MISSION: To educate, inspire and celebrate the visual and performing arts in Nazareth and the Lehigh Valley.
The Nazareth Center for the Arts (NCA), run by the Nazareth Cultural and Arts Commission of the Borough of Nazareth, is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) charitable community arts based organization. All donations to the center are tax deductible. We opened our doors to the public in December of 2009 and offered nearly 100 events and meetings in our first year of operation.
Music performances spanning a wide range of genres, art receptions, poetry readings, storytelling, and open mic nights were among the main activities presented. Today, the Center continues to conduct a wide variety of events and offers classes in art and acting.
The Center is ADA compliant and unique in that it features a combination Performance Hall and Art Gallery. Performance seating is limited to 60 creating an intimate, listening venue, ideal for music lovers who appreciate fine musicianship and aren’t interested in competing with the noise typically found at a bar or cafe. The space encourages interaction between the audience and musicians resulting in a memorable experience as songs and the songwriting process are discussed.
We pride ourselves on providing a diversity of styles by talented musical performers in a family friendly environment. Expect to see soloists, duos, ensembles, and bands and hear modern and traditional forms of blues, classical, country, electronic, jazz, folk, new age, rock, and world in both acoustic and electric shows.
Our Mural...
The Nazareth Center for the Arts mural was designed and painted by local muralist, Matt Halm. Our mural is located on the east side of our building at 30 E. Belvidere Street, Nazareth, PA as part of the 2022 NEDC facade grant program. We believe that this will positively impact Nazareth and promote more public art in town.​​
Lehigh Valley Live article on the Mural Dedication​
The Nazareth Center for the Arts was fortunate enough to be awarded 3 different grants. We would like to thank the following for making it happen: 1st: The Nazareth Economic Development Commission (NEDC), with a special thanks to Lisa Surma Borick, Nazareth Downtown Manager. The NEDC Facade Grant program, which was secured through the Northampton County GrowNORCO grant was the grant that started the whole process. 2nd: The Creative Communities Mini Grant from the PA Council on the Arts was the 2nd grant we secured. Thank you Sarah Merritt for your direction and patience. The 3rd grant was from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber’s Foundation Main Street LV Grant Program. We would like to thank Jessica O”Donnell and Lori Reinert for helping us close the gap with this 3rd and final grant.
#supportthearts #supportlocalartists #muralart #matthalm #nazarethpa #nazarethnow #PAcouncilontheArts #nazarethareachamberofcommerce
Our Building...
Our building at 30 Belvidere Street in Nazareth, PA, has a fascinating past rooted in the town’s civic development. Constructed around 1902, it originally served as the new station for Vigilance Hose Company No. 1, replacing an earlier structure and providing space for fire apparatus, meeting rooms, and comfort facilities
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Following decades of service in firefighting, the station was decommissioned in 1980 when a modern firehouse was completed on South Broad Street. Shortly after, the vacated building was repurposed as the headquarters for the Nazareth Borough Police Department. Since the late 2000's the building has been home to the Nazareth Center for the Arts, offering gallery space and hosting community-oriented events such as open-mic nights and art exhibitions ​
The building's transformation is emblematic of Nazareth’s broader historic preservation efforts within the Nazareth Historic District, which encompasses over 500 contributing buildings dating from the mid-18th to early-20th centuries and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
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Today, this turn-of-the-century firehouse stands as a vibrant example of adaptive reuse—moving from its origin in civic safety to a functioning arts and cultural hub—while retaining its architectural integrity and continuing to serve the heart of downtown Nazareth.
Thank you to our generous supporters:
THANK YOU!
On behalf of our Board Members, we thank you for your support and look forward to your visiting!
Jenny Swanker – President | Ashlee Deutsch – Vice President | Jeff Lerch – Treasurer | Amanda Polkowski – Secretary
Rebecca Pieper | Kris Sebring | Mitchell Nollman | Glenn Kratzer | Henry Hopf | Lauren Shaver | Robert Willever | Christa Timko