3 Dots, located in downtown State College, is a dynamic arts incubator that plays a pivotal role in fostering creativity, collaboration, and economic growth in the Centre Region. Through its incubation efforts, Artist Residency Program, and monthly $1000 grant initiative, 3 Dots connects local creative community builders, providing crucial resources, mentorship, and space for emerging artists and organizations. By supporting a range of artistic ventures—spanning theater, performance, visual arts, and community festivals—3 Dots has become an essential player in Happy Valley’s creative economy, creating jobs, building cultural capital, and attracting local and regional audiences. These contributions significantly enhance the region’s cultural and economic vitality.
Manny’s Performance Space: Building a Thriving Arts Venue
The transformation of a once-vacant space—formerly The Saloon on Hiester Street—into Manny’s Performance Space represents a key milestone in the revitalization of downtown State College. What began as a pilot series testing the market for global sounds at 3 Dots has grown into a cultural movement so powerful that it outgrew its original home, catalyzing the creation of Manny’s Performance Space in downtown State College—a new brick and mortar live music venue designed to sustain and amplify this impact. Through the vision of Owner/Operator Corey Elbin, Director of Gorinto Productions and Director of Rhoneymeade Fest, Manny’s Performance Space reclaims a significant corner of the East End’s development and redefines it as a hub for live music and cultural tourism. The venue’s success demonstrates that world-class arts experiences are viable outside major metropolitan areas, drawing visitors from across the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Seaboard and proving that there is a demand for global music here in Happy Valley.
Manny’s opening night in January 2025 drew over 200 visitors, including guests from Northeastern PA, NYC, Pittsburgh, and Virginia. The event featured a world-class performance by Yeison Landero, whose U.S. tour included performances at the Kennedy Center. The excitement was palpable, inspiring Landero to extend their set, later naming the State College stop as one of the tour’s highlights. Manny’s Performance Space is more than just a venue; it fuels downtown State College’s growth by supporting artists and driving foot traffic to local businesses. As a catalyst for cultural and economic renewal, Manny’s is helping reimagine the East End as a cultural epicenter.
Blue Brick Theatre: Economic Growth Through Local Arts
In its early years, Happy Valley Improv, a resident organization of 3 Dots, used the space as a homebase to grow a dedicated audience. This connection eventually led to the creation of the thriving Blue Brick Theatre. 3 Dots’ flexible and affordable rehearsal and performance space allowed Blue Brick Theatre to focus resources on programming and marketing, leading to increased prominence in the community. The theater generates revenue through ticket sales, events, and community partnerships, while also creating jobs and strengthening the arts economy.
In addition to weekly intergenerational programming Blue Brick Theatre has enriched the cultural fabric of State College by offering events like the Happy Valley XL and XS Fests, which bring performers from across the nation to downtown State College. The economic impact of Blue Brick Theatre extends beyond the theater itself, as its audiences frequent local restaurants, cafes, and shops, contributing to the vitality of the surrounding businesses. The theater has become a vital anchor for local commerce, attracting both residents and visitors to the downtown area.
The Print Factory: Where Printmaking, Books, and Community Converge
The Print Factory Bellefonte is a worker-run bookstore and social/cultural space in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, supporting the intellectual and artistic life of the local community. Through fiscal sponsorship and pilot programming at 3 Dots, the collective developed its identity, audience, and offerings. Eventually, Print Factory attained its own 501(c)(3) status and opened a brick and mortar location in Bellefonte, drawing artists and visitors to once vacant space, making it an integral part of the region’s creative economy. The Print Factory’s success highlights the importance of mentorship and financial support, which allowed the space to grow and thrive in the early years. Today, The Print Factory stands as a beacon for local artists and a vital cultural institution in the region.
Artist Residency Program: Cultivating Innovation and Economic Impact
The Artist Residency Program is at the core of 3 Dots’ economic impact, nurturing creative talent while driving local economic activity. By offering artists access to space, funding, and mentorship, the program enables them to focus on their craft while contributing to the local economy. Through collaborations with local municipalities, businesses, education programs, and community organizations, the residency program facilitates public art installations, performances, and workshops, which in turn attract tourism dollars to the area. On average
The residency program provides a platform for both emerging and established artists, ensuring that they have the resources to succeed. As a result, these artists create lasting economic and cultural value in the region, further enhancing 3 Dots’ role in boosting Happy Valley’s economic vitality.
The $1000 Grant Program: Supporting Innovative Projects
3 Dots also stewards a $1000 grant program, supported through partnerships with local changemakers in the 3 Dots Trustees program, which contributes $100 monthly to fuel economic growth. These grants enable resident organizations to cover production costs, materials, and outreach, empowering them to bring innovative projects to life. The program has supported a wide range of initiatives, from theater productions to arts festivals and educational workshops. By investing in such initiatives, 3 Dots fosters long-term economic sustainability, supporting job creation and boosting cultural tourism.
To date, the $1000 grant program has awarded more than $75,000 to various arts projects across the Centre Region, strengthening community engagement and contributing to the local arts ecosystem. Through this program, 3 Dots has become a key player in ensuring the creative and economic vitality of the region, driving cultural tourism and creating new opportunities for artists.
A Collaborative Approach to Sustainable Growth
3 Dots’ work is only made possible through the strong support of donor partnerships, including funding from the Knight Fund at the Centre Foundation, PA Humanities, the PA Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. These partnerships have allowed 3 Dots to continue its mission of supporting and nurturing the region’s creative economy, ensuring that artists and arts organizations have the resources and mentorship needed to succeed.
The leadership of Erica Quinn, Executive Director of 3 Dots since 2021, has been instrumental in building relationships, securing funding, and guiding the organization’s growth. Under Quinn’s stewardship, 3 Dots has become an indispensable resource for local artists, businesses, and the broader community, ensuring the continued success and sustainability of Happy Valley’s creative economy.
