Erie Art Company Awarded $25,000 Pennsylvania Creative Catalyst Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grant will Support OPENFEED Virtual Residency in Partnership with FEED Media Art Center
State grant advances Pennsylvania’s creative economy by funding direct artist stipends, tech-driven creative development, and shared digital infrastructure.
ERIE, PA — Erie Art Company announced today that it has been awarded a $25,000 Creative Catalyst Grant through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to fund and expand the upcoming cycle of the OPENFEED Virtual Residency Project, produced in partnership with FEED Media Art Center.
Administered to stimulate high-impact, forward-looking initiatives across the state’s creative sector, the $25,000 grant directly supports state priorities: building sustainable creative infrastructure, advancing tech-enabled workforce skills, and elevating regional cultural vitality.
Through the OPENFEED Virtual Residency, Erie Art Company (EACO) and FEED Media Art Center will leverage these funds to provide multidisciplinary creators, digital artists, and creative technologists with the financial backing and collaborative digital architecture necessary to produce experimental work without geographic or socioeconomic constraints.
Developed as specialized exhibition hardware and playback software, the liveFEED Art Box is a standardized digital kiosk and media player designed by Erie Art Company for FEED Media Art Center. Built on lightweight single-board computing architecture, the Art Box bridges virtual and physical exhibition spaces—delivering continuous, high-fidelity playback for digital loops, interactive installations, and time-based media without complex onsite AV overhead.
AI Generated Mock for POC
Gemini 3.1 PRO
Program Highlights & Strategic Alignment
Direct Creative Support: Unrestricted artist stipends to subsidize time, software licensing, and production costs during the residency term.
Shared Digital Infrastructure: Cloud-based processing frameworks, collaborative digital environments, and experimental media pipelines that build long-term capacity for remote creative production.
Curatorial & Technical Mentorship: Structured critique, masterclasses, and portfolio reviews led by guest curators, creative technologists, and digital art pioneers.
Broad Public Access & Amplification: Interactive virtual exhibitions, live-streamed presentations, and digital showcases connecting residents' work to statewide and global audiences.
"This $25,000 Creative Catalyst award reflects Pennsylvania's commitment to investing in the future of the creative economy," said Brad Ford, Executive Director of Erie Art Company. "Through OPENFEED, Erie Art Company and FEED Media Art Center are demonstrating how regional organizations can leverage digital infrastructure to empower artists, foster tech-driven creative skills, and expand the state's cultural footprint. By removing physical barriers to entry, we are giving experimental media creators the dedicated space, critical dialogue, and financial support needed to build ambitious work."
Application timelines, eligibility requirements, and open-call dates for the upcoming OPENFEED Virtual Residency cycle will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.erieartcompany.org/openfeed.
Past OPENFEED Residencies
About FEED Media Art Center
FEED Media Art Center is a dedicated platform and venue for time-based, digital, and interactive media art based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Through exhibitions, artist residencies, and public programming, FEED fosters critical inquiry, technical experimentation, and community engagement at the intersection of contemporary art, technology, and culture.
About Erie Art Company
Erie Art Company is an arts organization committed to cultivating contemporary creative expression, supporting multidisciplinary artists, and building sustainable cultural infrastructure across regional and digital networks.
Media Contact:
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Erie Art Company
