GoggleWorks

What is the mission of GoggleWorks?

Our mission is to transform lives through unique interactions with art. When people hear “art center,” they often think of paintings on a wall or sculptures on a pedestal. While artistic rigor is important to us, the deeper part of our mission is transformation: how making things can impact someone personally, how creating alongside others can build connection and how doing that work in a city like Reading can help transform downtown. Art becomes a catalyst for individual growth, for relationships and for community revitalization. It’s a lofty goal, but we’ve seen firsthand how creativity can change the way people see themselves and their world.

Where does GoggleWorks operate?

We’re headquartered in the Lauer’s Park neighborhood of downtown Reading. A lot of our work is deeply localized here, especially after completing an 18-month neighborhood planning effort to better understand what our community needs.

At the same time, we serve people from nearly every county in Pennsylvania and welcome visitors from across the country and internationally. About half of our visitors come from the immediate community, which we’re proud of, and the other half come from outside the region.

What was the catalyst for starting GoggleWorks, and how has it evolved over time?

GoggleWorks was founded by a group of visionary community leaders, including Albert Boscov, Marlin Miller and Irv Cohen, who saw potential in this historic factory building. What was once a goggle manufacturing facility has been transformed into a vibrant arts campus.

Over the past 20 years, we’ve expanded our vision beyond being an art center inside four walls. During the pandemic, we began thinking more intentionally about how art could extend beyond our building. That led to the development of our Art Park, which includes green space, a music venue and a restaurant, with plans for an amphitheater and additional features in the future.

We’re also completing development on an additional building on campus that will expand our studios, introduce artist housing and include a satellite location for the local food bank with a teaching kitchen. Growth has been exciting and sometimes nerve-racking, but it’s all rooted in that original mission of making art interactive, accessible and transformative.

We serve “pre-K to gray,” as we like to say. Whether it’s a child at summer camp, a third grader discovering art or a retiree starting watercolor painting at 101, we want to be here at every stage of life.

In one word, what sets GoggleWorks apart?

Creativity.

Creativity is at the heart of everything we do. It’s not just about being artistic, it’s about curiosity, flexibility and problem-solving. We see creativity change how people think about themselves and what’s possible in their lives.

We’ve seen individuals come in with one set of skills and discover entirely new mediums. We partner with organizations to offer workforce development programs in areas like woodworking and metals for individuals reentering society. We’ve seen people begin painting in their 100s and others rediscover artistic passions after decades in another career. Creativity opens doors—whether that’s personal healing, professional development or community connection.

What are you most excited about for the future of GoggleWorks?

I’m most excited about the momentum we’re building around our outdoor spaces and neighborhood connections. Through conversations with residents, we learned that people value safe, welcoming spaces and opportunities for their kids to be creative, even if they don’t always have time to take a formal class.

Our Art Park and community garden are examples of meeting people where they are. The garden, which began as a partnership with a local school, has become an outreach asset with educational programming and after-school activities. These spaces allow people to engage with us in ways that feel approachable and natural.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to other nonprofit leaders?

Flexibility is essential. We’ve worked hard to diversify our revenue streams, balancing earned revenue from our programs and businesses with contributions and grants that allow us to subsidize high-impact initiatives.

When challenges arise, whether it’s a pandemic or shifts in funding, that flexibility allows us to adapt. I would also say: Listen to the people you serve. Through neighborhood canvassing, surveys and conversations, we’ve learned that the best ideas often come from the community itself. Our job is to respond thoughtfully and honestly to what’s needed.

What impact does having the right banking partner have on your organization?

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the right financial partner. When you’re focused on mission work, it’s easy to overlook how much infrastructure and support it takes to make that work possible.

Customers Bank supports us in day-to-day operations, but they’ve also stepped in on significant projects. These range from helping us complete major infrastructure improvements that brought new programs to campus to supporting scholarship initiatives that make our classes accessible to more people. Because of that support, we’ve been able to introduce new scholarships and expand access in meaningful ways.

It’s not just transactional. It’s partnership.

Can you tell us about your partnership with your banker? How did it begin, and how has it evolved?

The relationship began through a connection with our team, and from the start, Customers Bank showed a genuine interest in understanding our goals and addressing our concerns. They took the time to clear obstacles and create solutions that worked for us.

What’s stood out is their commitment to the bigger picture. They see banking as a vehicle for community transformation, much like we see art. Whether it’s helping us navigate board processes, supporting capital projects or investing in scholarships, they’ve been consistent and responsive.

Our partnership is built on relationships and a shared desire to see Reading thrive. And when you’re trying to transform lives and strengthen a community, that kind of alignment makes all the difference.