Kathy Liebler
                        Director of Public Information


   C   O   M   M   I   S   S   I   O   N                N   E   W   S             R   E   L   E   A   S   E

         Contact: Kathy Liebler 717-939-9551 Ext. 2850                                April 26, 1996

TURNPIKE TO SHOWCASE PENNSYLVANIA-MADE CRAFTS

        ATTENTION -- PENNSYLVANIA CRAFT ARTISTS: The Pennsylvania Turnpike in conjunction with Pennsylvania-Made Crafts, Inc., the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, are establishing two crafts centers scheduled for opening in mid-summer. The sites selected for the centers are the welcome centers located in the North Neshaminy Service Plaza, Bucks County and the Zelienople Service Plaza, Beaver County.
        Turnpike officials are announcing a jury selection process, open to all Pennsylvania resident craft artists, to choose works which will be displayed and sold at each craft center. The crafts will include traditional, folk and contemporary works in such mediums as clay, metal, wood, glass and leather.
        William Capone, the Turnpike's deputy executive director of marketing said, "We're delighted with this opportunity to raise public awareness and appreciation for Pennsylvania's renowned crafts heritage. We're encouraging craft artists across the commonwealth to enter the jury selection process and participate in this exciting venture."
        Alice L. Eakin, president of Pennsylvania-Made Crafts, Inc. said that craft artists wishing to apply for the jury selection process must request and complete an application. APPLICATIONS CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING PA-MADE CRAFTS INC., 412-695-1155. If eligibility requirements are met, applicants will be scheduled to bring their work to one of five jury sites for review. Eakin emphasized that craft artists do not need to be high volume producers to participate.
        "We want to assure our customers that the centers will feature the highest quality crafts available for purchase," Capone said. "At the same time the centers will help craft artists earn a living, continue their artistic development and gain respect from their communities as solid contributors to the local and statewide economy." Capone said that several million Pennsylvania travelers and out of state travelers visit the North Neshaminy and Zelienople sites each year.
        The sites and dates for jury selection are: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, April 30; Meadville Council on the Arts, May 3; Southern Alleghenies Museum, Altoona Extension, May 7; Harrisburg Farm Show Complex, May 11 and Philadelphia Arts Alliance, May 14. Additional Information can be obtained by calling 412-695-1155.

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         P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676         Phone: (717) 939-9551         Fax: (717) 986-9649