(JOHNSTOWN, Pa.) – 1889 Foundation and Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance (PRAA) are pleased to announce the 2025-2026 recipients of the Creative Health Impact Grant (CHIG) Awards. The awards provide up to $60,000 in 1889 Foundation funds to support arts programs related to health and wellness in Cambria and Somerset Counties.
“The strength of this year’s grant applications demonstrates the continued growth and vision of our arts community. Applicants clearly recognize the vital link between creative expression and overall wellness. The selected projects will provide inclusive opportunities for people across the community to nurture both creativity and health” said Becky Catelinet, Executive Director of the PA Rural Arts Alliance.
This is the tenth year of 1889 Foundation’s support of the CHIG Awards. “The collaborations showcased in this year’s applications are truly inspiring. Organizations are partnering in creative ways to achieve shared goals, resulting in programs that are both innovative and deeply rooted in health and wellness. It’s exciting to see ideas that blend artistic vision with meaningful community impact!” said Debbie Costlow, Program Director, 1889 Foundation.
All funded activities will take place between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026. The funded programs are as follows:
1901 Church, Inc.- Sound Baths for Healers: To provide healthcare workers in the Johnstown area consistent access to therapeutic sound bath experiences. Each sound bath is led by a different skilled practitioner trained in therapeutic modalities.
Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center – “M.I.N.D. Works Art: Exploring Emotional Expression: The established Mindfulness & Art Clubs will be expanded to include 5th and 6th grades at Conemaugh Valley Elementary school and 5th through 7th grades at Johnstown Middle School. Art exhibits will be hosted at both schools and there will be a curated exhibit at the Bottle Works art gallery.
2024 – Local artist/art teacher and Laurel Arts Board of Directors member Erin Mayak created a botanical mural on the Mindful Body and Wellness building on Union Street in Somerset. The detailed design incorporated flowers that were significant to the business owners Madalyn and Michael Mitchell and their clients. This mural was made possible by a grant from the 1889 Foundation.
Cambria County Library – “Senior Crafternoon ”: Monthly senior “crafternoon” programs will be held for any member of the community aged 60+. A variety of arts mediums will be explored.
Community Arts Center of Cambria County – “Insightful Art”: This project provides art and craft workshops to the blind and visually impaired community. Four art workshop experiences will be held each month for adults, for a 12-month period. The goal of the workshops is to enhance communication, self-expression, and emotional release to bridge the social gap between people with visual impairments and the public.
Confluence Creative Arts Center – “Everybody Come Make Art in the Park”: A day-long all-ages community-wide celebration of creativity, nature and togetherness. A free public event that invites people of all ages and abilities to participate in a wide range of engaging art and nature-based activities.
Confluence Creative Arts Center – “Crankie Kids are Happy Kids”: This project is intended to engage at-risk middle and high school students in a performance art experience through Crankies, a form of story telling art often called moving panoramas.
Cresson Lake Playhouse – Cresson Lake Playhouse Youth Theater Program: The goal of this program is to enhance artistic skills, promote community engagement and ultimately promote health and wellness through confidence of our young performers. Community participation includes involving over 100 students from Cambria, Blair and Somerset counties in auditions and performances of a selected play.
Flood City Youth Fitness Academy – “Finding My Voice: Expressing Myself Through My Art Therapy Journey”: This program provides student with the much-needed benefit of Art Therapy. Art Therapy will allow students to express emotions that may be difficult for some students to verbalize.
Hope Beyond Hurt Trauma Informed Coalition – “Mindfulness on the Mountain – Labyrinth Project”: This initiative will engage local youth and trusted adult mentors in creating a permanent mindfulness space – a labyrinth, that promotes mental well-being, resilience, and relationship-building.
Johnstown Symphony Orchestra – “Johnstown Symphony Orchestra Rehearsal Experience: Music for Every Mind”: Will offer a unique rehearsal experience called Music for Every Mind to individuals with sensory needs or who are easily overstimulated by a concert environment.
Laurel View Village – “Continuing Success with Music and Memory and Opening Minds Through Art”: The focus of the Music & Memory for All project is to unlock memories by playing meaningful music from a resident’s past using a personalized playlist. Opening Minds Through Art connects resident artists with trained volunteers who unlock imagination and creativity with the idea that everyone can be an artist.
Lilly-Washington Public Library – “Art in the Park 2025-2026”: Art in The Park will benefit the community of Lilly and Washington Township by bringing arts and cultural activities to the town that lacks arts experiences. Each month artists, musicians, theatrical performers, yogis, culinary artists, and presenters will visit the library to enrich the community. In conjunction with the arts activities, there will also be medical related personnel and organizations that will be present to answer health related questions of the community and perform simple tests.
Mount Aloysius College – “THE PERFECT DOG – Mount Aloysius College Theatre for Young Audiences”: The Theatre Department, in collaboration with the Education and American Sign Language/English Interpreting Department will present the play “The Perfect Dog”. The education department, education majors, and local school districts will collaborate to develop appropriate curriculum related to the play. Curriculum will be distributed prior to production to prepare students at local schools in the learning experience about the world of “The Perfect Dog”.
Sandyvale Cemetery Association, Inc. – “Sandyvale’s Music Desert Program”: Establish a music arts program that could utilize both the site’s indoor and outdoor facilities. At least five concert events will be held at Sandyvale during the program year.
Small Town Hope, Inc. – “Jewelry Design Project”: Jewelry making, building friendships & nurturing wellness will be five two-hour artist-led interactive classes that will have kids design & create fashionable and unique jewelry items. This project supports emotional and social health by focusing on building relationships between the participants.
Tuesday Noon Recitals at First Lutheran Church – “Wellness Outreach”: This initiative will make music programs available to more residents of personal care homes in Cambria and Somerset counties. Performances held in April, July and October take place at the First Lutheran Church in Johnstown. Care homes are helped to arrange transportation of residents to recitals. Some performers will travel to care homes for those who are unable to go to the church. The grant will also improve accommodations at lunch for people who have mobility issues.
The Irish Pretenders perform in October 2025 at First Lutheran Church.
Many recitals are repeated at nearby personal care homes thanks to a grant from the 1889 Foundation, administered by the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance
The collage includes outreach performances at Vista at Napoleon Place and Westmont Woods (Presbyterian Home), and also residents of Heritage Ridge seated in the sanctuary, all during the April series.
1889 Foundation’s mission is to support innovative programs and initiatives that improve and transform the overall health and wellness of our region. Through collaborations and partnerships, with a focus on population health, the Foundation is dedicated to making meaningful change in the areas that are negatively impacting the health and well-being of our local communities. For more about the 1889 Foundation, visit www.1889foundation.org.
The Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance (PRAA) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization whose mission is to develop and promote the arts throughout rural areas of southwestern Pennsylvania. Recognizing a need for arts information and technical assistance to existing and emerging arts organizations and individual artists, PRAA was founded in 1988. Its activities are supported by membership dues and grants from private foundations and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.