Arts & Humanities

With four National Historic Landmarks, 100 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, and a variety of visual and performing arts organizations, Washington County boasts a unique cultural scene that blends the historic with the modern.

Impact

• Pennsylvania Trolley Museum welcomes an average of 48,000 visitors per year to see its collection of 54 historic trolleys, and enjoys a membership of over 800 members worldwide.
• TThe Duncan & Miller Glass Museum may be the only art museum in Washington County, but they are making the most of their platform, expanding to soon offer glassmaking classes and demonstrations.
• While “Little” is part of their name, Little Lake Theatre’s engagement levels are anything but, bringing in over 13,000 community members a year for its programs and performances.
  

Challenges

With Pittsburgh and its more varied cultural offerings in close proximity, Washington County institutions have largely found it difficult to compete, an issue exacerbated by limited funding and the need for updated facilities to better welcome visitors. Washington Community Theatre currently does not have a permanent home, relying on local event spaces to house its performances. Others such as Washington County History & Landmarks need a new roof and other improvements to preserve its current historic structure. With an average budget of under $140,000, these improvements can be costly and out of reach for many organizations.

Faced with a lack of central support in this way and others from a dedicated arts and culture council, many organizations are also forced to rely on their majority volunteer staff, many of which are in the older demographic with few potential younger successors.