2021

ANNUAL REPORT

As 2021 is coming to a close, we wanted to make sure we took some time to thank all of the artists and community that have been making First Friday Scranton’s monthly events, even in some new formats, an incredible experience. Like all organizations in recent times, we have learned a lot of lessons about how to keep growing, even as the landscape shifts. Over the last two years, we have added some new dimensions to our event. This is mostly due to the need to change our format while we waited for our event to be safe for everyone, as well as a number of them highlighting new pockets of talents that we might not have otherwise had an opportunity to meet. 

Last year we started on a virtual event experience. This allowed our community’s artists to have an outlet to share their work even while we couldn’t be together physically. You can find those exhibits here if you didn’t have a chance to see them. Between April and June of 2020, we had 39 artists and groups share their work. In addition, they shared with us some of their inspiration, their work process, and more about themselves as artists. This turned out to be a catalyst for us to reconnect with artists to amplify not only their work but their inspiration and processes. We loved learning about our local artists, so be sure to look for more of their stories as we enter 2022.

2021 has seen a bit of a return to normal events. We have been thrilled with the number of venues and artist participating. It’s been a fantastic addition to add the additional layers of entertainment throughout our city center.

This holiday season, we wanted to continue amplifying the community’s talents by highlighting some local artists’ work that is available for a special holiday gift. 

Our most important accomplishment has to be a shared one. With so much uncertainty and pivoting over the last two years, First Friday Scranton has continued to be a foundational element of our regional community. We would not have been able to continue and even evolve throughout this period without the artists, musicians, venues, and most importantly the community that enjoys them month after month. 

We are looking forward to sharing more with you in 2022. 

The Board of First Friday Scranton 

OUR STORY

First Friday Scranton is a 501(3) non-profit, volunteer-supported organization composed of a Board of Directors and Advisory Council that organize, promote and market a free art walk held on the first Friday of every month at dozens of galleries and businesses around downtown Scranton. First Friday features a wide variety of cultural events found in some of the city’s best restaurants and cafes, as well as galleries, boutiques, and other small businesses.

All events associated with First Friday take place from 5-9PM in a walk-able, close knit footprint, though a trolley bus is available to provide shuttle service at designated stops.


First Friday serves as a conduit to artists, connecting them to prospective venues, art lovers seeking entertainment, and venues looking to attract new customers. All of these are unified under the vision of using the arts to revitalize downtown Scranton.

TOP PARTICIPATING VENUES

1.) Analog Culture

      12 times

2.) Northern Lights Espresso Bar & Cafe

      11 times

3.) BARTARI

      9 times

4.) Adezzo

      8 times

5.) AFA - Artists for Art

      7 times

6.) The Workshop

      7 times

0

TOTAL #
OF VENUES
IN 2021

0

.

0

.

0

DATE ESTABLISHED

MAY

MONTH
WITH MOST
VENUES

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTICIPATING VENUES:

Adezzo
AFA Gallery
Analog Culture
Artisans Square
Backyard Ale House
Bar Pazzo
BARTARI
Cathedral of Saint Peter
Connell Building
Court House Square
Crocus Cafe
Fancy Parsley Architecture + Design
FRINGE @ 200 Adams Ave
Heaven & Earth Cafe
Lackawanna County Children’s Library

Lackawanna County Courthouse  
LAVISH Scranton
Library Express Bookstore
Loyalty Barber Shop
Marquis Art & Frame
Moravia Health
Nick D.'s Video Game Vault
Northeast Advisory Group, LLC
Northern Light Espresso Bar and Cafe
Noteology
Peculiar Kitchen
Penn Furniture
Radisson Lackawanna Hotel Scranton Lobby & Lounge
Ritz Theater and Performing Arts Center

Runway Boutique
Scranton Fire Department Headquarters
Scranton Tomorrow
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Tammy's Stained Glass Treasures
Tequila 
The Bog
The Garden Mediterranean Restaurant 
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
The Leonard Theatre
The Marketplace at Steamtown
The Workshop
TUSK
Yoga West

THANK YOU TO OUR ARTISTS:

Alex Punchpaint
Amanda Hrycyna
Anthony Shiny Montini
Andreas and Michael Boosalis
Ariane Fuentes
Ashley Kujat
Bradley Parry
Cecilie Miseo
Celeste Gilmartin
Charles Acosta
Chrissy Manuel
Christopher Derek
Christopher Dolan
Corey Kizer
Courtney Allison Close Jr.
Emmanuel Wisdom
Eric Bussart
Erica Foley
Eugene Lucas photography
Fannieka Dawkins
Fine Feather Kids

FORM GUILD
Grace Doolittle
Hayd Nichols
HW Yorkonis
Iryna
Jamie Bamberger
Jay Luke Jay
Jeanne H. Ross
Rena Hottinger
Lauryn de Leeuw
Danielle Lehtinen
Jeff Kuratnick
Jenna Tully
Jenny Mathews
Jesse Clemente
Jessica Maietta
Joel Carson Jones
Josh Juicey
K. Barthold
Karina Lynn

Katie Hovencamp
Paul Plumadore
Jason Riedmiller
Melissa Jennings Sordoni
Keith Renard
Kelly Davies
Krista Healey
Kristina Laurito
KWAK
Leanna Yatcilla
Mark Charles Rooneu
Mark Darnobid
Marywood Art Students
Melissa Sprau
Mickey Campbell, Joe Kluck, & Earl Lehman
Nancy and Colleen Phillips
Nancy Yamin
Nate Holden
NEPA Calligraphers Guild

Nic Dreger
Nicole Novak
Ooky Von Spooky
Peter Hoffer
Georgios Kyriakos
Phil Engsberg
Rose Matatics
Ruse Bad & Sonic Bad
Sam Barrese
Sam Kuchwara
Sara Burgos
Rebecca Klemovitch
Tara Piciulo
The Beverly Trio
Travis Prince
Trinity Lewis
VALERIE TASSEY
Vince Bonitz
WIKA
Will Bruns

52 UNIQUE MEDIUMS:

Acrylic pouring
Architecture tour
Batik
Blown glass
Book signing
Calligraphy
Ceramics
Crochet art
Custom jewelry
Eggshell art
Fashion show
Film festival
Found art

Gouache painting
Laceworks
Letterpress
Lighting design display
Live music
Live tattooing
Mixed media
Mosaic
Murals
Musicals
Oil paint
Open mic
Organ recital

Paint on glass
Paintings
Paper snowflakes
Pet portraits
Photography
Pop up performances
Portraits
Pottery
Printmaking
Prints
Pyrography
Refurbished furniture
Rock painting

Sculptures
Silent art auction
Slime art
Spontaneous poetry
Spray paint art
Steel drums
Teabag art
Variety show
Voice presentation
Watercolors
Window display
Wood workshop
Yarn creations

LEADERSHIP

Executive Director | Thom Welby

President | Jack Reager, BlackOut Design

Treasurer | Jeff Ghergo, PNC Bank

Vice President | Tim McLain, StudioM

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bernie Maopolski, One Point Office Supplies

Bonita Ferguson, St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Maureen Duffy, Duffy Accessories

Heather Davis, The Commonwealth Medical College

Julie Schumacher-Cohen, The University of Scranton

Nancy Yamin

Melissa Carestia, AFA Gallery

Ian L. Lopera, Times Shamrock Communications

OUR PARTNERS