Projects & Programs

NTCA fosters awareness and appreciation of the cultural traditions produced by the unique blend of diverse cultures found in our region through annual and special events, exhibits, the PA North Country Artisan Center & Store, educational programs and community involvement. NTCA also serves as one of seven Regional Folk Arts Support Centers in partnership with the PA Council on the Arts (PCA) in a statewide Folk Arts Infrastructure Initiative that seeks “to strengthen awareness and understanding, as well as participation in, traditional arts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

In support of its mission and the Folk Arts Infrastructure Initiative, NTCA now offers support to artists and community organizations from 10 northern Pennsylvania counties: Bradford, Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming.

The PA North Country is home to rolling hills, deep forests, small towns, lush farmlands, and the West and North Branches of the mighty Susquehanna River. It is this landscape, in part, that has defined the heritage and culture of the people who call this region home. The agriculture and lumber industries were, and continue to be, major influences in the region, and in recognition of this influence, many of NTCA's projects focus on the connections the people have to the land. As drilling for natural gas continues to expand within the region, this industry too will leave its mark on not only the landscape but also our heritage and culture and in so doing become a part of NTCA’s projects and programs.

On-going projects of NTCA include:

“From Heart to Hand” Exhibit
Annual exhibit that showcases the work of artists living and working in Pennsylvania's North Country. The site of the exhibit moves around the region each year to provide exposure to different communities.

Agriculture Heritage Day
A day of demonstrations, educational displays, and craft and Farmers Market vendors along River Street outside the Washington Street Station in Towanda. Held annually in July.

Northern Tier Buy Fresh Buy Local
NTCA serves as the chapter administrator for the Northern Tier Buy Fresh Buy Local program. The program was designed to increase demand, consumption and production of local foods - thus providing healthier food for all and supporting local agriculture. It is our goal to make it easier for consumers to find, choose and appreciate great local foods....and to support the farmers and lands which produce them. Currently, the Northern Tier Chapter includes Bradford, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming Counties.

Pennsylvania Wilds Artisan Development Network
NTCA works closely with the Pennsylvania Wilds Artisan Development Network on their Artisan Trail program. NTCA covers six of the 12 PA Wilds counties with our regular programming. Through workshops, presentations and meetings, NTCA staff share information, identify and document new artists and have a broader impact with shared resources. NTCA also serves as a fiscal conduit for the PA Wilds Artisan Trails program.

PA North Country Artisan Center & Store
Featuring items produced by people who live and work in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier and New York’s Southern Tier Counties. The store, which now features the work of over 60 regional artists and food producers, has a vision of creating a space that:

• Provides retail space for local artisans and food producers to sell their goods.
• Provides assistance to the small business owner specializing in locally produced products by helping them market and build awareness of their products.
• Creates tools for local consumers and tourists that will help them connect, allowing for the purchase of regional farm and craft products.
• Educates the public about cultural traditions, history and art of the Pennsylvania Northern Tier and assists tradition bearers and traditional artists in the preservation of their work through interpretive exhibits and demonstrations/classes.

PA Partners in the Arts
The regional arts funding partnership of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency. In partnership with the PCA, NTCA facilitates the PA Partners in the Arts (PPA) Project and Program Streams for Potter, Clinton, Cameron, Lycoming, and Northumberland Counties. The program provides grants of up to $3,000, to eligible organizations or individuals to conduct public arts projects.

Recent NTCA special projects include:

Food Fun Fact Cards
Designed for students in grades Kindergarten through 4th, these colorful cards highlight fun facts about foods that are grown or raised within the Northern Tier region including their seasonal availability and local farmers who grow/raise them. The cards will be produced in two sets - one set highlighting fall harvests/foods (turkey, apples, pumpkins, etc.) and one set highlighting spring harvests/foods (lettuce, maple syrup, poultry, etc.). Information on foods that are commonly available year-round, such as milk, cheeses, and meats, will be included in both sets. School Districts participating in the 2009-2010 academic year include Canton, Towanda and Troy. Sponsored by Chemung Canal Trust Company and the Allen F. Pierce Foundation

2008: Year of the Barn
A multidisciplinary study and celebration of Northern Tier barns, agriculture and farm life. The project included solicitation of individual surveys of barns, two barn dances, a DVD, a barn guide map (available in 2010) and raising the general awareness of the beauty and heritage contained in the barns around us.

Vendor-Buyer Day
A one-day networking event designed for retailers, restaurateurs and hoteliers (predominantly B&B’s), schools, assisted living/nursing homes, hospitals, etc. within the PA Northern Tier and NY Southern Tier to meet and network with Northern Tier artisans, crafters, growers and producers. Primary focus is to develop relationships amongst these groups, discuss potential wholesale/retail opportunities, determine interest, and assess needs/gaps/possibilities. First event was held October 26, 2009; second, follow-up event planned for October 2010.

Forest Heritage Project
Designed to connect people in rural Bradford, Lycoming and Potter Counties to their heritage, and help them appreciate their shared regional forest culture. Presentations and hands-on activities took place in schools, museums, historic sites and at a local fiber farm.

Craft Development & Marketing Initiative Fund
Formed initially by a generous donation from the Trask Family of Mansfield, the Fund is administered by the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance. The purpose of the Fund is “to finance projects and programs that develop, support and market the region’s artisans, craftspeople and craft industry while creating an economically and philosophically viable environment to support these entrepreneurs, artisans and tradition bearers.” NTCA is working with a Committee of community members to develop the concept of a Craft & Cultural Education Center based in Mansfield, PA. This Center would potentially include: gallery space, a reference library, retail shop featuring regionally created artwork and specialty food items, business incubator space for artists, and meeting space for regional art and cultural groups.