The Tamaqua Has Heart project is live, and definitely in color.

The first heart, which holds the handprints of the community, kicked off its tour with a stop at St. Jerome Regional School on Thursday.About 200 students and teachers placed their hands in paint and then on the heart, according to Leona Rega, coordinator of the Tamaqua Community Arts Center.Wandie Little, volunteer for the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, told the students the project stemmed from the Dear Tamaqua project.Eighth-grade student Dante Agosti said he believes the project is beneficial to the area."I think it's a wonderful idea, very creative," Dante said. "It's a wonderful idea to see what Tamaqua people can offer and what their ability is."Art teacher Kathy Odorizzi said, "It is important that our students are aware of the positive things that are happening in the area, such as the 'Tamaqua Has Heart' initiative.""The project promotes pride in our community," Odorizzi said. "We are happy to be a part of it."From now through May 1, the heart will make visits and stops at many locations within the borough in an effort to encourage excitement for the 10 hearts that will be on display from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2017.Artist packages are currently available, and artists have until Dec. 16 to submit up to three sketches of their designs.Little said, "It has been a lot of fun working with and contacting these artists."To date, Little said local artists Kim East, Paul Corinchock, Joe Evanousky, Suzanne Dalton, Patty Pasick, Kevin Smith and Jon McCoy of McCoy Designs have confirmed their designs are underway.Currently, about 50 different artists and art centers and organizations have been provided the information, which includes guidelines for submission of their designs, deadlines, and suggested materials to complete the 39-by-42-by-20-inch heart sculptures.Artists receive $50 in compensation for initial supplies, and 25 percent of the proceeds of their heart when sold at auction.An artist reception will be held Jan. 10 to unveil each of the submitted drawings with the artist and sponsors.Artists will then have until May 6 to complete their designs.The hearts will be installed along key locations of East and West Broad Street, with the goal of drawing attention to the downtown shopping and eating district, highlight its local history, and promote tourism.Each heart will display a plaque listing both the artists who designed the piece, as well as the sponsors."It is our hope that people from all over will come to see the hearts, and tell others what a special place they visited, Tamaqua, the Little Town with Big Heart," Rega said.A special auction and gala will be held Sept. 28 at a location yet to be determined. The event will host food, drinks and the auction, where anyone can come to participate, bid and take home the heart they love.Kyle Whitley, volunteer and project organizer, said Tamaqua Has Heart derived from two things, a hat he saw senior citizens wearing that said "Tamaqua, The little town with the big heart," and a sculpture project in Catskill, New York.Whitley said, "they have been doing this project for over 10 years. We called them multiple times to get tips and discuss the process. They are so happy for Tamaqua, and plan to visit us during the course of the display and seek to send visitors to participate in the auction.""I believe that Tamaqua can thrive as a tourist town," Whitley said. "Tamaqua has amazing history, and the possibilities are endless in the downtown area."The Tamaqua Has Heart project is designed to draw the attention of investors, entrepreneurs and create a dialogue around places like the Art Center, Historical Society Museum, Owl Creek Reservoir, hunting, fishing and more.Sponsors are still being sought for the hearts, with sponsorships starting at $250, and going up to $2,500.Sponsorships are tax deductible, and sponsors receive recognition on a mounted heart plaque, and tickets to the Gala on Sept 28.Sponsors wanting to participate in the artist selection need to do so no later than Dec. 30.In order to print a sponsor name on a plaque, those donations need to be received by no later than Feb. 28.Those wishing to host the heart while it is on tour may call the Tamaqua Community Art Center at 570-668-1192, or email

leona@tacp.info.For more information on the project, visit

www.tamaquaarts.org, or like their Facebook page TamaquaHearts.