Aligned in Purpose and Action

Pennsylvania emerges as a model nationally for creativity-driven economic development, and the KACE network features thought leaders in a national conversation on the multifaceted power of the creative economy.

With a Creative Catalyst grant support from the PA Council on the Arts (PCA), Bridgeway Capital’s Creative Business Accelerator (CBA) and a growing ecosystem of organizational partners implement a statewide initiative. Named the Keystone Alliance for the Creative Economies (KACE), the project aims to help a dedicated network of arts and cultural and community development organizations across Pennsylvania manage and enhance their economic development outputs and outcomes.

Oil Region Alliance

IUP STEAMSHOP

Valley Fab Lab

Alliance for Creative Rural Economies (ACRE Partners)

Erie Center for Arts and Technology

CraftNOW

PA Wilds Center

Bridgeway Capital

KACE is made possible, in part, through support of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), which believes that building stronger communities takes creativity. Learn more about the PCA and its support for creative entrepreneurs, arts-based community and economic development, and its investments that strengthen Pennsylvania’s creative sector at arts.pa.gov.

Eric Ashby

Project Specialist – KACE

Eric is a Pittsburgh, PA native who brings a background in strategic planning, nonprofit management, data analysis, and entrepreneurship to his work at KACE. Prior to joining KACE, Eric worked with Bridgeway’s Creative Business Accelerator as the Data and Marketing Coordinator helping to refine the Information Management System as well as support program development and storytelling for ORIGINS and PG&H. In addition, he worked at Indiana University’s Center for Rural Engagement building engagement frameworks and programs to improve quality of place through arts and culture. Eric is also a co-founder of Tiny Dorm Concerts which is an NPR inspired recorded concert series garnering over 50,000 views across twelve countries. Eric earned a BS in Arts Management from Indiana University – Bloomington and will complete his MA in Arts Administration and MPA at Indiana University – Bloomington in December 2022.