Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is turning to virtual events this year instead of the in-person event that draws 125,000 people to State College every July. But one decades-long tradition continues unabated.
Festival organizers on Tuesday unveiled the annual collectible poster designed by Lanny Sommese, Penn State professor emeritus of graphic design, and his daughter Saige, a 2018 graduate of the Penn State graphic design program and owner of her own design firm.
The 24-inch by 36-inch poster is a ‘a subtle nod to a summer without a festival,’ according to a news release. Most of the typical images found in the annual collectible poster — the festival’s jester and references to art, music and theater — are missing and replaced with a sunrise over the valley, symbolizing hope for better days ahead.
“When we were discussing canceling this summer’s festival, we felt it was important to continue the tradition of the real festival poster,’ Rick Bryant, executive director of the Arts Festival, said. ‘Instead of referencing downtown State College and the Penn State campus, the poster’s text says ‘happening wherever you are.”
Lanny Sommese has designed the festival poster for more than 40 years and for the past two years has collaborated with Saige Sommese. The entire collection of posters from throughout the festival’s history is on display in Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center.
The poster is free and can be picked up at the following locations
– Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, 403 S. Allen St., Suite 205A, State College
– Downtown State College Improvement District, 127 S. Fraser St., State College
– State College Framing Company and Gallery, 160 Rolling Ridge Drive, State College
– The Makery, 209 W. Calder Way, State College
– Art a la Carte, 107 S. Allegheny St., Bellefonte
– Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau, 1 W. Market St., Lewistown
Any posters remaining after July 12 will be available for sale on the festival’s website.
The 54th annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts will take place virtually July 9-12 at arts-festival.com.
