James Jordan Selected as PA Cultural Exchange Fellow

The Touchstone Theatre director joins 50 inaugural fellows for a new state humanities program.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Cultural

James Jordan Selected as PA Cultural Exchange Fellow

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Pennsylvania Humanities has named Touchstone Theatre executive director James Jordan as one of 50 inaugural fellows for the new PA Cultural Exchange. Jordan was chosen from a pool of 350 applicants for the 18-month fellowship program.

Why it matters

The fellowship aims to bolster the careers of cultural practitioners while fostering statewide connections through shared learning and exchange opportunities. Participants engage in collaborative projects and virtual meetings to strengthen local cultural impact.

Each fellow receives $10,000 in funding for the 18-month program. Jordan brings 22 years of experience at the Bethlehem-based Touchstone Theatre to the cohort.

The players

James Jordan

He is the executive director of the Touchstone Theatre and an inaugural fellow for the PA Cultural Exchange.

Pennsylvania Humanities

This organization manages the PA Cultural Exchange program to support cultural practitioners across the state.

The details

Jordan, a graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, previously led the "Dear Tamaqua" project, which incorporated over 500 individual submissions into a single production starting in 2014. The new fellowship program requires participants to attend three cultural exchanges and ongoing virtual sessions.

The "Dear Tamaqua" project began in 2014.
The first fellowship meeting recently took place in Pittsburgh.
Fellows will gather in the Pennsylvania Wilds during the spring of 2027.
Fellows will meet in York in the fall of 2027.

Industry Dynamics

The fellowship program reflects a broader trend of state-level investment in regional arts practitioners to bridge geographic divides. By connecting leaders from across Pennsylvania, the initiative moves away from isolated local operations toward a more integrated statewide cultural infrastructure.

Residents can expect to see increased collaborative arts programming across the state as fellows begin their 18-month tenure. The exchange of ideas between cultural leaders like Jordan may lead to new touring productions or workshops hosted in local communities.

The takeaway

The PA Cultural Exchange program creates a direct pipeline for seasoned arts leaders to share community-based models like the "Dear Tamaqua" project. Local practitioners looking to elevate their reach can monitor these fellowship outcomes for collaborative potential.