Marywood University Celebrates Successful Completion of LIGHTING UP SCRANTON 2025

Marywood University is proud to announce the successful completion of LIGHTING UP SCRANTON 2025, a public art initiative made possible in part through a $5,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s 2025 Spring Community Needs Grant Cycle.

The project brought two large-scale 3D projection art installations to the exterior of Marywood University’s Liberal Arts Center Rotunda, transforming the campus landmark into a vibrant public canvas. The first installation took place in May 2025 as part of Observe Scranton Fest, while the second occurred in September 2025, in tandem with the launch of the 2025 Scranton Fringe Festival. 

Across the two installations, over 1,500 individuals took part in LIGHTING UP SCRANTON 2025, offering free access to innovative public art and celebrating the power of creativity to activate shared spaces, strengthen civic pride, and bring people together. This type of projection operates by first having its artists/tech staff map every detail of the building's exterior, then designing vibrant visuals that seemingly transform the architecture itself.

In September, LIGHTING UP SCRANTON 2025 also included an interactive workshop and panel for Marywood University School of Architecture students, led by artist Anna Warfield. The workshop offered insight into the design, technical planning, and civic impact of 3D projection and projection mapping. Warfield, a Binghamton-based artist whose work ranges from intimate objects to large public installations, has worked extensively with LUMA Projection Arts Festival as Production Director from 2020 to 2023, Consultant in 2023, and Small Works Curator in 2024. LUMA, based in Binghamton, is recognized as one of the country’s premier projection arts festivals, using powerful projectors and 3D animation to transform architecture into large-scale canvases for storytelling.

LIGHTING UP SCRANTON 2025 was presented in partnership with the Scranton Fringe Festival, Observe Scranton Festival, and The Center for the Living City. In addition, creative and technical support was made possible thanks to Endeavor Audio and Lightning Design. Together, these partners helped create a public-facing arts experience that highlighted Marywood’s continued commitment to community engagement, cultural programming, and the creative life of the Scranton region through the use of highly advanced technology and an innovative approach

“LIGHTING UP SCRANTON 2025 beautifully reflects Marywood University’s commitment to civic engagement, creativity, and meaningful connection with the broader community,” said Maria McDonald, Director of Community & Civic Engagement at Marywood University. “By creating these types of public art experiences, we are able to engage students, neighbors, artists, and community members to see a familiar space on our amazing campus in a new way.”

Marywood University extends its sincere thanks to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for supporting LIGHTING UP SCRANTON 2025, as well as all of the University’s partners and supporters, for helping make this public art experience accessible to the broader community.

About Marywood University

Marywood University, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania at the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, is a comprehensive, independent, private, Catholic university with over 3,100 students. Marywood offers many of the advantages of a large university, including more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees taught by outstanding faculty, along with 22 Division III varsity athletics teams. Marywood is a small, safe, and close-knit community that provides students with a friendly atmosphere and a high level of personal attention. Marywood University

About the Scranton Area Community Foundation

The Scranton Area Community Foundation responsibly stewards resources and inspires transformative philanthropy to build a strong and vibrant community. With over $100 million in assets under management and more than 415 charitable funds, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served as a steward, grantmaker, charitable resource, and catalyst for change since 1954. The Foundation leads various initiatives, including Women in Philanthropy, the Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence, NEPA Moves, and the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. Additionally, the Foundation hosts and facilitates NEPA Gives and the NEPA Learning Conference. The Scranton Area Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization confirmed in compliance with National Standards of U.S. Community Foundations. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at www.safdn.org.