2025 Annual Report

Bridging the Digital and the Physical: A Year of Cultural Innovation in Erie

1. Executive Summary: The Year of Convergence

The fiscal and programmatic year of 2025 stands as a definitive turning point in the history of the Erie Art Company (EACo). It was a year characterized by the aggressive pursuit of a singular, transformative vision: to position Erie, Pennsylvania, not merely as a consumer of culture, but as a primary generator of avant-garde media arts and a bastion of literary freedom. Through a strategic consolidation of our partnership with the FEED Media Art Center and the exponential growth of the Lake Erie Lit Festival, EACo has successfully navigated the complex intersection of digital innovation and civic engagement.

In 2025, the organization operated under the thematic umbrella of “Convergence.” We witnessed the convergence of physical heritage and digital future as we secured the resources to transform a 200-year-old building into a canvas for real-time media art.¹ We fostered the convergence of local ecology and global technology through residencies that turned the sounds of Lake Erie into immersive data-scapes.² And we championed the convergence of art and activism, distributing banned books in the heart of Frontier Park to reaffirm the community’s commitment to intellectual liberty.³

Key Operational Milestones:

• Infrastructure Investment: In a landmark achievement for downtown revitalization, EACo, in partnership with FEED Media Art Center, was awarded a $100,000 Anchor Building Grant from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA).⁴ This capital infusion is currently fueling the installation of a 100-foot outdoor TV screen/media wall at 1307 State Street, a project destined to redefine the visual identity of Erie’s Downtown ARTs District.
• Global Residency Expansion: The OPEN FEED 2025 program shattered geographic limitations by introducing a “Virtual Residency” track. This allowed us to support international artists like Nigerian digital creator Yinkore, alongside domestic talents such as Jessica Reisch and Susan Snipes, thereby importing global perspectives into the local dialogue while exporting Erie’s cultural output to the world. This was funded by Erie Community Foundation for $25,000 & $5000 Mediathe Foundation.
• Literary Activism: The 2025 Lake Erie Lit Festival achieved record participation, hosting over 40 authors. The festival’s “Reading is Resistance” initiative, executed in partnership with the Erie County Public Library, distributed hundreds of challenged books, transforming a cultural celebration into a potent statement on the freedom to read.⁵ Funded by ECGRA and a $10,000 dollar grant.
• Curatorial Excellence: From the glitch-art provocations of Brad Ford’s “Digital Dada” ⁶ to the immersive industrial critiques of Stephan Moore and Jenny Boles’ Palace of Machinery ⁷, EACo’s programming challenged audiences to rethink the role of technology in society.

This Annual Report details the mechanisms, partnerships, and people behind these achievements. It serves as both a record of a historic year and a blueprint for the future of the creative economy in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

2. Strategic Vision: Defining the New Media Landscape

The Philosophy of Creative Placemaking in the Rust Belt

The Erie Art Company operates within a specific socio-economic context: the post-industrial landscape of the Rust Belt. Our strategic vision is rooted in the concept of Creative Placemaking—the intentional use of arts and cultural programming to shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood.

In 2025, EACo moved beyond the traditional model of “displaying art” to a model of “activating space.” The partnership with FEED Media Art Center is the operational engine of this philosophy. By embedding high-technology art forms—projection mapping, generative video, and sonic architecture—into the historic fabric of State Street, we are signaling a transition from an industrial past to a digital future.⁸ This is not gentrification; it is regeneration. It preserves the historic shell of our built environment while radically upgrading its function to serve the information age.

The selection of 1307 State Street—a building with two centuries of history—as the site for a 100-foot digital media wall is emblematic of this approach. It asserts that heritage and innovation are not mutually exclusive but can reinforce one another. The wall acts as a “digital hearth,” a gathering place that draws the community together, illuminating the streetscape and providing a platform for public communication that is visually arresting and culturally enriching.⁴

The Evolution of the “Phygital” Arts Organization

A core component of our 2025 strategy was the embrace of the “Phygital”—a seamless integration of physical and digital experiences. The contemporary art world is no longer confined to the white cube of the gallery; it exists on screens, in the cloud, and in the metadata of the blockchain.

EACo’s response to this shift was the OPEN FEED 2025 Virtual Residency. By acknowledging that meaningful artistic exchange can occur over fiber-optic cables as effectively as it can in a studio, we democratized access to our resources.² This approach allows EACo to serve as a node in a global network of media arts organizations, facilitating the movement of ideas even when the movement of people is restricted by cost or geopolitics.

Furthermore, our commitment to “Real-Time Media Art” ⁸ positions Erie as a testing ground for technologies that will define the next decade of cultural production. Whether through Yinkore’s NFTs or Jessica Reisch’s hydrophone arrays, EACo is proving that a mid-sized city can be a heavyweight contender in the arena of new media.

3. Pillar I: The FEED Media Art Center Partnership

The symbiotic relationship between the Erie Art Company and the FEED Media Art Center is the foundation of our operational capacity. While FEED provides the physical venue and specialized technical infrastructure, EACo provides the curatorial vision, community outreach, and administrative muscle. In 2025, this partnership matured into a fully integrated joint venture.

The Anchor Building Grant: A Historic Investment

In October 2025, the strategic validity of the EACo/FEED partnership was confirmed by the awarding of a $100,000 Anchor Building Grant from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA).⁴ This grant is highly competitive and is reserved for projects that demonstrate the capacity to serve as economic drivers for their districts.

Grant Utility and Scope:

The funds are allocated specifically for a comprehensive “digital facelift” of the FEED headquarters at 1307 State Street.

• Structural Rehabilitation: A portion of the grant ensures the structural integrity of the historic façade, preserving the 200-year-old masonry that anchors the block.¹
• Technological Integration: The primary allocation serves to purchase and install the LED modules, control systems, and data infrastructure required for the media wall.
• District Impact: The grant designates the site as an “Anchor Building,” formally recognizing its role in stabilizing and growing the local economy. The presence of a high-tech cultural hub encourages foot traffic, benefits unparalleled nightlife and dining establishments, and increases the perceived value of the surrounding real estate.¹⁰

Infrastructure Transformation: The 100-Foot Media Wall

The crown jewel of the 2025 infrastructure projects is the 100-foot outdoor TV screen. This is not a billboard for commercial advertising; it is a dedicated canvas for digital art.

• Public Art at Scale: The screen allows EACo to commission and display works that are monumental in scale. It transforms the act of viewing art from a private, intentional choice (entering a gallery) into a public, incidental encounter. Passersby, commuters, and residents will engage with contemporary video art simply by navigating the city.
• The “Digital Facelift”: As described in press releases, this project gives the building a “digital facelift”.⁴ It is a literal and metaphorical brightening of the downtown corridor.
• Technical Specifications: While the screen is the visible output, the project also involved significant upgrades to the building’s internal power grids and data servers to handle the rendering requirements of high-resolution, real-time generative content.
  

Revitalizing the Downtown ARTs District

The EACo/FEED complex is strategically located in the Downtown ARTs District. Our activities in 2025 were designed to amplify the brand of this district.

• Cluster Effect: By coordinating with neighboring businesses and the Erie Downtown Partnership, EACo ensures that our events contribute to a “cluster effect,” where the aggregate draw of multiple cultural venues creates a vibrant destination.
• Nighttime Economy: The media wall and evening programming (such as the ATOTAL performance) extend the active hours of the district, supporting the “after-5 PM” economy that is crucial for urban vitality.²

cafeGIANT: Activating the Streetscape

To bridge the gap between the street and the gallery, EACo and FEED launched cafeGIANT at 1311 State Street.⁶

• Concept: Described as a “cozy storefront coffee shop with a small stage,” cafeGIANT serves as a “Third Place”—a social environment distinct from home and work.
• Performance Window: The venue features a unique architectural intervention: open windows and outdoor speakers that allow performances to be broadcast directly to the sidewalk. This breaks down the physical barrier between the artist and the public.
• Hybrid Audience: Performances are live-streamed, allowing local acts to reach global audiences while simultaneously entertaining the immediate neighborhood. This dual-audience approach is a hallmark of EAC’os 2025 strategy.⁶

4. Pillar II: OPEN FEED 2025 Residency Program

The OPEN FEED 2025 residency program represents the R&D (Research and Development) wing of the Erie Art Company. It is where new ideas are tested, new technologies are prototyped, and new artistic voices are amplified. The 2025 cycle was particularly notable for its integration of a “virtual” track, expanding our operational footprint without requiring additional physical footprint.

Program Overview and Global Reach

The residency is an open call to artists working across the spectrum of digital mediums: interactive installations, generative art, sound art, video art, software art, kinetic sculpture, and circuit bending.²

• Inclusivity: The call for entries explicitly encouraged diverse subject matter, with a firm prohibition on hate speech, ensuring a safe and inclusive creative environment.²
• Resources: Selected artists were given access to FEED’s “one-of-a-kind collection of digital and analogue tools,” as well as large-scale studio space for prototyping.¹

The Virtual Residency Track: Breaking Geographic Barriers

In a strategic pivot, OPEN FEED 2025 introduced a Virtual Residency. This innovation addresses the logistical and financial hurdles that often prevent international artists from participating in US-based programs. By utilizing digital collaboration tools, EACo was able to provide mentorship, exhibition space (via screens and web), and stipends to artists regardless of their physical location.²

Artist Profile: Jessica Reisch – The Lake Erie Listening Project

Residency Period: July 7 – July 19, 2025 (Onsite)

Jessica Reisch, a new media artist and educator from Pratt Institute (New York), utilized her residency to engage deeply with Erie’s most significant natural resource: the lake itself.²

• Project Scope: The Lake Erie Listening Project was a research-intensive exploration of the “unheard ecosystems” of Lake Erie.
• Methodology: Collaborating with Austin Clay Willis, Reisch used high-sensitivity hydrophones (underwater microphones) to record the acoustic environment of the lakebed.
• The Installation: The final work featured a carved wooden boat that acted as a resonance chamber. Inside, the recorded sounds of the lake were played back through transducer speakers, turning the wood itself into a speaker.
• Data Visualization: The soundscapes were accompanied by projected visuals that mirrored ecological shifts, creating a “rhizomatic” connection between the data and the viewer.¹¹
• Institutional Partnership: Following its debut at FEED, the installation traveled to Gannon University’s Center for Lake Erie Education and Research (CLEER), demonstrating the project’s scientific validity and the strength of EACo’s academic partnerships.¹¹

Artist Profile: Susan Snipes – Waiting for Your Response

Residency Period: August 10, 2025 (Exhibition)

Susan Snipes, a Cleveland-based interdisciplinary artist, brought a psychological dimension to the residency program.²

• Thematic Focus: Snipes explored the specific anxieties of the digital age—disconnection, the “typing…” bubble, and the silence of the inbox.
• The Work: Waiting for Your Response was an immersive installation described as a “quiet chamber of absence.”
• Interactivity: Visitors were invited to step into a room of projected text and layered audio. They could upload their own “unsent or unanswered messages,” which then became part of the digital ether of the piece.
• Impact: This work highlighted EACo’s commitment to art that is not just technically impressive, but emotionally resonant. It provided a space for communal reflection on the loneliness that often accompanies hyper-connectivity.¹¹

Artist Profile: Yinkore – Threaded Lineage

Residency Period: October – December 2025 (Virtual)

Yinkore, a Nigerian digital artist, served as the inaugural Virtual Resident, proving the viability of the remote mentorship model.²

• Project Concept: Threaded Lineage was a visual art series comprising 3-5 pieces that explored the cultural inheritance of sewing.
• Narrative: Yinkore traced the legacy of tailoring through her matrilineal line—from her great-grandmother to her mother, and finally to her own practice as a digital creator.
• Medium: The project bridged the gap between traditional craft (sewing) and the blockchain. The residency resulted in limited-edition NFTs and a print series.
• Engagement: Yinkore conducted virtual workshops, teaching Erie youth about digital drawing techniques and sharing her cultural history, thereby creating a cross-continental cultural exchange.¹¹

Artist Profile: Ginny Brocki – Experimental Media

Residency Period: June – August 2025

Ginny Brocki, a local artist, participated in the summer onsite residency.² Her work, presented under the FEEDworks banner, contributed to the diverse ecology of the program, reinforcing EACo’s commitment to supporting local talent alongside international stars.

Corrina Espinosa: Technology, Creativity, and the Human Experience

Denver-based tech and new media artist Corrina Espinosa will join the residency, bringing her exploration of the bleeding edge of technology, creativity, and the human experience. With over 10 years at CU Boulder, where she has served as an Assistant Teaching Professor and Guest Lecturer, Espinosa is dedicated to fostering innovation and critical thinking in the next generation of digital artists. Her work has received accolades such as the “Leaving the Room without Leaving the Room” Award at the Casa Bonita Art Show (2025) and Best Renegade Art Show by Denver Westword (2023).

Emerging technologies like AR, AI, and digital animation allow her to build worlds that bend space and time. She explains, “they let me tell stories that don’t behave. These stories are not linear; they shimmer, loop, whisper, and sometimes scream. I don’t aim for resolution — I aim for recognition.

A moment where a viewer’s internal static matches mine. That is the connection. That is the spell.”

Brad Pattullo & Andrea Russo: Animated Shorts

The residency will also welcome Brad Pattullo, a professor of animation and film in the Art Department at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Pattullo’s extensive experience includes working on acclaimed animated television series such as “Gary and Mike,” MTV’s “Celebrity Deathmatch,” and WB’s “Phantom Investigators,” as well as contributing animated segments to “Sesame Street.” His independent animated films have garnered international recognition, screening at over ninety film festivals and receiving eighteen prestigious awards. OPENFEED is honored to make his work visible and celebrate this creator, educator, and parent.

Pattullo will be joined by his former student, Andrea Russo, a 2D Animator and Illustrator and a recent graduate of PennWest Edinboro. Russo’s film, AMYGDALA, is a culmination of their time at Edinboro and a powerful love/hate letter to their experience with lifelong mental health struggles. Animation, illustration, and art have always been intrinsic to Russo’s life and happiness, and they hope to provide the same sense of joy to others.

“Viscous” by Brad Pattullo

“Amygdala” by Andrea Russo

5. Pillar III: Exhibitions and Curatorial Highlights

Beyond the residency program, EACo and FEED maintained a robust calendar of exhibitions that kept the gallery active throughout the year.

Digital Dada: Brad Ford and the Aesthetics of Glitch

Exhibition Launch: February 15, 2025

The 2025 season opened with a provocative statement of intent: “Digital Dada.” Curated and created by EACo Director Brad Ford, this exhibition defined the aesthetic tone of the year.⁶

• The Manifesto: Ford coined “Digital Dada” to describe a fusion of the 1916 Dadaist movement’s absurdity and rebellion with modern digital glitch aesthetics.
• The “Broken Sculptures”: The centerpiece of the show was a series of flat-screen TVs that had been physically smashed, painted, and glued, yet remained functional enough to display distorted video loops.
• Philosophical Inquiry: This work questioned the utility of the screen. By destroying the screen’s ability to convey clear information, Ford transformed it from a “tool” into an “object.” It was a critique of our reliance on digital displays and a celebration of the “ghost in the machine.”
• Critical Reception: Art critic Gary Cardot described the work as a “pixelated reflection of change,” capturing the chaotic energy of the digital era.⁶

Palace of Machinery: Immersive Industrial Histories

Exhibition Run: Extended through June 6, 2025

Created by Stephan Moore (Chicago) and Jenny Boles (Bozeman), Palace of Machinery was a haunting exploration of the Rust Belt’s industrial psyche.⁷

• Source Material: The installation utilized archival films shot inside Pittsburgh’s Westinghouse factories for the 1904 World’s Fair.
• Execution: These films were reanimated across a multi-screen array, accompanied by a disorienting, immersive soundscape.
• Relevance: For an Erie audience, the imagery of heavy industry and orchestrated labor resonated deeply. The piece questioned the “palaces” of modern industry and the human cost of progress.
• Support: The exhibition was supported by grants from the Erie Community Foundation and mediaThe foundation inc., highlighting EACo’s ability to secure diverse funding for specific projects.

ATOTAL: Franck Vigroux and the Sonic Finale (Postponed- due to snow)

Event Date: December 13, 2025

The programming year concluded with a high-profile performance by French artist Franck Vigroux.²

• The Work: ATOTAL was described as a “Sound, Light, and the Collapse of Order.” It was an audiovisual performance that used high-volume electronic textures and strobe lighting to create a visceral, physical experience for the audience.
• Significance: Hosting an international avant-garde figure like Vigroux signals that Erie is on the map for experimental music tours, elevating the city’s cultural profile.

Eclipsing Stars: Art in the Path of Totality

Event Date: April 2024 (Retrospective Context)

While primarily an event from the previous fiscal cycle, the momentum of “Eclipsing Stars” carried into 2025. This exhibition celebrated the Total Solar Eclipse, blending Native American eclipse stories with immersive projection environments.⁸ It established FEED as a “central gathering point” for major civic events, a role it continued to play in 2025.

6. Pillar IV: The Lake Erie Lit Festival

If FEED represents the technological edge of EACo, the Lake Erie Lit Festival (LELF) represents its communal heart. Held on September 13, 2025, at LEAF at Frontier Park, the festival grew to become the region’s premier literary event.¹³

Festival Growth and Frontier Park Activation

The decision to host the festival at Frontier Park allowed for a sprawling, campus-like atmosphere that accommodated record attendance.

• Scale: The 2025 festival featured over 40 authors from the tri-state area.⁵
• Infrastructure: The site included a Main Stage for readings, an Author Tent for signings, a Children’s Tent for youth activities, and a Vendor Marketplace.
• Accessibility: By keeping the event free to the public and maintaining low vending fees ($25) for authors, EACo ensured that the festival was economically inclusive.¹

“Reading is Resistance”: The Banned Books Initiative

The thematic anchor of the 2025 festival was “Reading is Resistance.” In response to a national climate of increasing censorship and book challenges, EAC took a decisive stance in support of intellectual freedom.³

• Partnership: Working closely with the Erie County Public Library (ECPL), EAC established the Banned Books Tent.
• The Giveaway: The festival distributed hundreds of free copies of challenged books to attendees. Titles included Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
• Civic Education: The tent also featured exhibits explaining why books are banned and providing resources for citizens to advocate for libraries.
• Fundraising: The initiative was funded through a creative donation campaign with tiers such as “Punch a Nazi ($1,000)” and “Give a Classroom Books ($500),” utilizing humor and passion to drive donor engagement.⁵

Literary Programming and Author Engagement

The festival lineup was curated to ensure diversity of genre and voice, reinforcing the idea that literature belongs to everyone.¹⁵

Key Participating Authors:

• Paul Jessup: A master of “Weird Fiction” and horror, Jessup signed copies of Skinless Man Counts to Five and Glass House.¹⁶
• Tess Carletta (Tessa Sayre): Representing the LGBT Romantic Fantasy genre.
• Debra R. Sanchez: Highlighting Bilingual Children’s Books, serving Erie’s Spanish-speaking population.
• Nathan Large: Sci-Fi/Fantasy.
• Michelle Tobin: Psychological Fiction.

Workshops:

The festival was not just about consumption but creation. Workshops led by experienced storytellers helped aspiring writers hone their craft, fulfilling EACo’s mission to “foster the sustainability of creative processes”.13

The Children’s Tent: Fostering Next-Generation Literacy

Managed by Sarah Sebald, the Children’s Tent was a hub of activity designed to ignite a love of reading in the youngest attendees.¹⁷

• Activities: Story-times, arts and crafts, and interactive readings.
• Impact: By associating reading with fun and creativity (rather than just schoolwork), the tent aimed to build lifelong readers.

7. Pillar V: Education, Youth, and Workforce Development

EACo recognizes that the “digital divide” is a significant barrier to equity. Our educational initiatives in 2025 were designed to bridge this gap by providing access to high-end tools and training.

Building the Future Digital Workforce

The OPENFEED residency is not just for professional artists; it is an educational engine. Through youth workshops, artists like Yinkore shared their skills in digital illustration and NFT creation with Erie students.¹⁸

• STEAM Integration: These workshops integrate Art into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), teaching students that coding and circuit bending are creative acts.
• Mentorship: The presence of international artists in Erie provides local youth with role models who are making a living in the creative economy.

Higher Education Partnerships: Gannon and Mercyhurst

EACo has cultivated deep ties with the region’s universities.

• Gannon University: The collaboration with Gannon’s CLEER (Center for Lake Erie Education and Research) was a highlight of 2025. By hosting Jessica Reisch’s installation, Gannon acknowledged the power of art to communicate complex scientific data about water quality and ecology.¹¹
• Mercyhurst University: Mercyhurst served as a key sponsor and partner for the Lit Festival, aligning its academic mission with EACo’s literary goals.¹⁹
• Dr. Derek DiMatteo: Serving as the Higher Education Outreach Coordinator, Dr. DiMatteo (Gannon University) facilitated these connections, ensuring a steady pipeline of student volunteers and academic resources.¹⁷

8. Organizational Leadership and Governance

The success of 2025 was driven by a leadership team that combines artistic vision with administrative rigor.

The “Networked” Leadership Model

EACo operates on a “networked” model, where key staff members hold dual roles in partner organizations. This ensures alignment and resource sharing.

• Brad Ford (Director): Ford’s dual role as Director of EACo and Gallerist of FEED ensures that the two organizations move in lockstep. His background in graphic design and fine art allows him to bridge the gap between the creative and the logistical.¹⁷
• Kyle Churman (Volunteer Coordinator): As co-owner of Werner Books, Churman brings retail expertise and a deep connection to the literary community.

Staff Profiles and Key Personnel

• Margo Wolfe, Ph.D. (Program Director): Dr. Wolfe oversees fundraising and structural organization. Her background in social activism informs the community-centric ethos of the Lit Festival.¹⁷
• Mabel Howard (Project Manager): The logistical backbone of the organization, managing the complex execution of festivals and residencies.
• Tessa Sayre (Communications): An author herself, Sayre manages the delicate relationships with the festival’s 40+ writers.

Volunteer Coordination

The Lake Erie Lit Festival relies on a robust corps of volunteers. In 2025, the coordination of these volunteers was professionalized, with specific roles for setup, author assistance, and accessibility support. This volunteer engagement is a key metric of community buy-in.

9. Financial Sustainability and Development

Grant Administration and Fiscal Compliance

Managing the $100,000 ECGRA Anchor Building Grant required a step-change in EACo’s financial administration.

• Compliance: EACo adhered to strict reporting standards to ensure transparency in the use of public funds. The organization underwent necessary financial reviews to maintain eligibility for government support.²⁰
• Impact Investing: The grant is viewed not just as revenue, but as an investment in the organization’s asset base (the building and the screen), which will generate value for decades.

Sponsorship Architecture and Donor Relations

The 2025 Lake Erie Lit Festival showcased a matured sponsorship model.¹⁹

• Tiers: Sponsorships ranged from Festival Friend ($50) to Champion ($1,000), allowing businesses of all sizes to participate.
• Partners: Key sponsors included ECGRA, Cafe 7-10, Werner Books, and the universities.
• Micro-Philanthropy: The “Banned Books” campaign demonstrated the power of micro-donations. By connecting donations to a specific, passionate cause (“Punch a Nazi” / Fight Censorship), EACo unlocked a new stream of individual giving.⁵

Resource Allocation for 2026

Fiscal planning for 2026 is focused on the operationalization of the Media Wall. Budget has been allocated for:

• Content Creation: Commissioning artists to create work specifically for the 100-foot screen.
• Maintenance: Establishing a sinking fund for the repair and upkeep of the LED hardware.
• Stipends: Increasing artist stipends for OPEN FEED 2026 to remain competitive in the global market.

10. Future Outlook: Vision 2026

As we close the books on 2025, the Erie Art Company is poised for a year of high visibility.

The Launch of the Media Wall

The defining event of 2026 will be the official lighting of the 100-foot media wall. This will not just be a technical test; it will be a civic celebration. We envision the wall as a platform for:

• Digital Art Exhibitions: Rotated monthly.
• Student Showcases: Featuring work from Gannon and local high schools.
• Community Messaging: Celebrating local heroes and events.

Expanding the Residency: Robotics and Kinetics

The OPEN FEED 2026-2027 call for entries is already live. The scope has been expanded to include Robotic Art and Kinetic Digital Sculptures.² This reflects the upgraded capabilities of the FEED labs and signals our intent to explore the intersection of hardware and software.

Closing Remarks

The Erie Art Company has spent 2025 building bridges. We have built bridges between the physical and the digital, between the artist and the activist, and between the history of Erie and its future.

We are no longer just an arts organization; we are an anchor institution. We look forward to standing with you in the glow of the new media wall in 2026.

Appendix: 2025 Data Tables

Table 1: 2025 Key Grants and Capital Projects

Project	Grant Source	Amount	Purpose
Anchor Building Project	ECGRA	$100,000	Installation of 100ft Media Wall; Facade Restoration at 1307 State St.
Lit Festival Support	ECGRA	10,000	Venue expansion to Frontier Park.
Palace of Machinery	Erie Community Foundation	Mediathe Foundation	Support for immersive installation by Stephan Moore.

Table 2: OPEN FEED 2025 Residency Cohort

Artist	Location	Format	Project Title	Medium
Jessica Reisch	New York, USA	Onsite	Lake Erie Listening Project	Sound Art / Hydrophones
Susan Snipes	Cleveland, USA	Onsite	Waiting for Your Response	Interactive Projection
Yinkore	Nigeria	Virtual	Threaded Lineage	Digital Illustration / NFT
Ginny Brocki	Erie, PA	Onsite	FEEDworks	Experimental Media
Franck Vigroux	France	Performance	ATOTAL-Postponed SNOW	Electronic Music / AV

Table 3: Lake Erie Lit Festival 2025 Statistics

Metric	Detail
Date	September 13, 2025
Venue	LEAF at Frontier Park
Author Count	40+
Key Theme	“Reading is Resistance” (Banned Books)
Key Sponsors	ECGRA, Gannon University, Mercyhurst University, Cafe 7-10
Community Partner	Erie County Public Library