As 2023 gets underway, The Village of Arts and Humanities is busier than ever, with plenty of exciting developments already underway and plenty more to look forward to. While we are thrilled to grow our work, we remain dedicated to our mission of supporting artists and Black community residents to imagine, design, and build a more just and equitable society.
Here’s a look at some of the projects already underway in our different focus areas for 2023:
Youth Leadership
Our Village Industry photography interns started the new year by exhibiting their work at a local gallery on Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill called NoName Gallery. Their display of photographs was part of NoName Gallery’s Mini Exhibition featuring several artists.
At the opening reception, one intern’s grandmother told us how learning photography has brought him out of his shell and that he’s never talked about anything as much as photography. In fact, he used his internship money to buy his own camera.
We love hearing stories about how much our creative programming transforms our youth and are incredibly proud of our young artists for their incredible work.
When our Philly Earth interns return to The Village’s Creative Campus for spring programming, they can expect changes to the farm.
Our team has kicked off its redesign process, where they’re making critical upgrades to the farm. They’ve started rebuilding the garden beds and reconfiguring their placement. They’re also finishing the outdoor kitchen, creating more space to increase our culinary arts-based programming. They also plan to build a second greenhouse.
We look forward to our Philly Earth interns enjoying these improvements once the next session of Village Industries begins in early March.
If you’re interested in registering your teen for Village Industries, visit our website. Registration opens on February 3, and spots are limited.
Social Justice
The People’s Paper Co-op, our women-powered, women-centered art and advocacy project, has a packed few months ahead. As the PPC prepares for its next Art and Advocacy Fellowship and Black Mama’s Bail Out Campaign, they are also getting ready for a significant honor. The Rothko Chapel has named the PPC a 2023 Rothko Chapel Óscar Romero Awardee.
This prestigious award recognizes individuals and organizations exercising courageous, grassroots, human rights advocacy to further civil rights in the United States.
The Rothko Chapel will host an award ceremony on Sunday, March 26, at 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST in Houston. Those who cannot attend in person can watch via Livestream.
Equitable Revitalization
At The Village, we are committed to our role as the official steward and manager of the Germantown/Lehigh Commercial Corridor. We partner with Philadelphia’s Commerce Department and North Central Empowerment Zone, utilizing community and economic development tactics to create a vibrant and safe corridor.
Through this work, we engage with businesses along the corridor, working to connect them with critical resources and funding opportunities. That includes The Merchants Fund, which provides grants to small businesses in Philadelphia to help them stabilize or grow.
A new grant cycle begins February 1, which our team will share with corridor businesses. More details are available here.
We look forward to an incredible year, and thank you for your continued support!