Saturday, December 30, 2023

It's nearly New Year's Eve. So instead of banging on pots and pans, we're offering up a story on Local Ways of Celebrating the New Year, which includes long-held traditions imparted to the region from early German and Irish immigrants, alongside traditions practiced by the more recently-immigrated Turkish community.

Our Community Spotlight story this week celebrates an expansion of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. With a new interactive space, and other upgraded amenities, the folks at the museum are looking forward to greeting visitors throughout the winter for the first time in their history!

This time of year is one for reflections, both by looking back and looking ahead. As we look down the road at what's coming up for Rivers of Steel programs in 2024, we wanted share the dates for our iron-casting workshops. For those of you who are looking to mark your new calendars, check out the Intro to Iron and Weeklong Iron Intensive program listings or view the events calendar for expanded offerings.

As we glance in our rear view, we encourage you to take a moment read a message from our partners and to watch our 2023 Year in Review video, if you've not yet had the chance.

We are thankful for your support throughout the year. We realize this has been a challenging year financially for some folks. If you can afford to support our efforts, your year-end donation will boost Rivers of Steel's ability to offer vital, engaging, and community-based arts, education, and heritage programs in 2024—benefitting the residents of southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond—through our programmatic efforts and through our collaborations with community partners.

Thank your for joining us as we celebrate a new year—we look forward to seeing you again in 2024!

Fireworks over Pittsburgh.

HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS

Local Ways of Celebrating the New Year

Like so many others at this time of year, we are considering the past as we look toward what the New Year will bring. For today’s Heritage Highlights story, we examine some popular local New Year’s ethnic traditions and their origins, while welcoming a new perspective on this holiday’s traditions—that of the local Turkish community. 

A view of the new Welcome and Education Center at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Photo by Gita Michulka.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Expands Visitor Experience

A new interpretive space, paired with upgrades to existing buildings at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, make for an elevated visitor experience at the Washington County attraction.

METAL ARTS WORKSHOPS

Intro to Iron Casting and Weeklong Iron Intensive Workshops

June 27 – 29 and June 24 – 29, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., daily

As we look to the year ahead, now is a good time to begin planning for our multiday iron-casting workshops. Save the date or register for your spot now for our June workshops. Intro to Iron Casting offers a chance to learn the process, while the Weeklong Iron Intensive allows participants ample time to craft their molds and cast their artworks.

An exhibition of Maxo Vanka artworks was hosted at the Bost Building from May through October, 2023.

IMPACTFUL COLLABORATIONS

A Message from Our Partners



Save Maxo Vanka and Rivers of Steel—programming partners Gledaj! The Gaze of Maxo Vanka exhibition

"The Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka is always ready to say “yes!” to a collaboration with our friends at Rivers of Steel. There’s something special about partnering with another 'one-of-a-kind' and 'only-in-Pittsburgh' organization dedicated to saving and sharing our region’s unique stories and making a positive impact on the future. We’re grateful for the ease of collaboration that has developed over the years. It was an easy decision to stage the first exhibition of the Vanka Murals Collection—Gledaj! The Gaze of Maxo Vanka—at the Bost Building this year. We knew that Rivers of Steel understood and appreciated the significance of the undertaking and would do everything possible to support our success. It was a valuable opportunity for both organizations to reach new but like-minded audiences and build sustaining support for our missions. We’re already talking about the next big thing!" — Anna Doering, Executive Director, The Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka

Support Rivers of Steel's work in communities throughout the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. Your tax-deductible contribution will help champion community collaborations and ensure that Rivers of Steel can continue to offer vital, engaging, community-based arts, education, and heritage programs for the residents of southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.

FEATURED VIDEO

Rivers of Steel 2023 Year in Review

Produced in collaboration with 232 Creative.

THINGS TO DO IN THE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

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