WHAT WE DO
Blackwood Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization located in Harrisville, PA. Our mission is to enrich the lives of young children and adults in the local community through music and visual arts. We believe that every individual deserves access to the arts, regardless of their financial background. Our team is made up of musicians, educators, and patrons of the arts who are committed to making a positive impact on our community through the arts.
The Blackwood Vision
Blackwood Arts, originally called Blackwood Theater Organ Society, began as a creative vision for partners Ben Robertson and Don Fink in 1991 to promote the appreciation and development of the performing and visual arts. Nestled on 40 lush acres of beautiful countryside in the small town of Harrisville, PA, the duo have masterfully created an immersive experience like no other in the world of music, art and nature. Over the past 50 plus years, the Blackwood property has continuously been transformed with magical gardens and impressive architectural creations such as a four-story clock tower which houses a 1907 Seth Thomas clock tower with a 6-foot face, a Schulmerich carillon (originally installed at Slippery Rock University) whose chiming melodies gently ring throughout the day, and a completely restored 1906 Wurlitzer military band organ that was originally used in fairgrounds to pique the attention of passersby. A leisurely stroll along walkways and open fields leads past the spring house (complete with an arched bridge spanning one of the properties natural springs), a colorful butterfly garden and an outdoor gazebo, to the heart of Blackwood - the music room - which houses a one of a kind, 20 rank Wurlitzer-inspired theater pipe organ that truly is a sight to behold. The estate is open from late spring through early fall presenting concerts, silent films, art workshops and garden tours. The proceeds from these events are used to directly benefit the youth in the surrounding community through various projects such as the Blackwood Scholarship Program, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the RHYTHM Project, and Graeme's Kids.