Celebrating culture, creativity, and community voices
About Barnes West
Serving West Philadelphia since 2018, Barnes West is designed to enrich lives and communities through shared art experiences and access. Building upon our community engagement work and HopePHL’s (formerly People’s Emergency Center) LoLa 38 creative-placemaking initiative, Barnes West presents multifaceted arts programming to connect West Philly residents with art in their own neighborhoods. This collaboration brings artists, residents, and business owners together in celebrating culture, creativity, and community voice—promoting lifelong appreciation of, and participation in, the arts and cultural life of our city.
What’s On
First Friday on the Move
August 2 · November 1
Join Barnes West and Ultra Silk Gallery for engaging conversations, art, wine, light bites, and lively performances at the Barnes Foundation on select First Fridays in 2024.
Here’s what’s in store:
- 5:30pm Gallery talk, wine, and light refreshments at Ultra Silk
- 7pm Chartered bus pickup from Ultra Silk and travel to the Barnes
- 7:15 – 9pm First Friday at the Barnes, featuring live music and access to the collection galleries and special exhibitions
- 9pm Chartered bus pickup from the Barnes and travel to Ultra Silk
Registration for First Friday on the Move opens the Monday before each event. Check back in July to register!
Everyday Places Artist Partnerships
Check back in June to learn more about our selected 2024 Everyday Places Artists, exciting new events, and art making in your West Philly neighborhood!
In the News
- “West Philly Voices Are Being Amplified through Barnes Partnership” —Philadelphia Tribune
- “This New Arts Initiative Is Welcoming West Philly to Write a Poem Together” —Philadelphia Inquirer
- "A Celebration of Philadelphia’s Diverse Creativity” —Al Día
Watch
Learn more about Everyday Places Artist Partnerships:
2023 Everyday Places Artists:
Elicia Epstein collaborated with West Philly residents on archival research, a community bike ride, and a zine at Neighborhood Bike Works.
Isaiah Reese taught flower arrangement and botanical workshops at the Silk Tent and Ultra Silk Gallery.
Meghan Tranauskas hosted ceramics workshops on vessel making at Dyke+ ArtHaus.
Pili X led a series of photo walks focusing on historical and contemporary documentation of West Philly in partnership with Get Fresh Daily’s Freedom Greens + Gardens.
2022 and 2021 Everyday Places Artists:
Anssumane Silla offered drumming and dancing sessions in Clark Park throughout the summer.
Gigi McGraw created a community art piece with the New Africa Center.
Jaime Wiesner created a community quilt at Mantua Civic Association.
Joanna Booth created a community quilt at Mantua Civic Association.
Nikki Brake-Sillá offered free playwriting workshops at Drexel University’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships.
Shanina Dionna led expressive healing arts sessions at Malcolm X Park and Urban Art Gallery.
Yidan Zeng led community quilting and dyeing sessions at University Square Complex, in collaboration with Sankofa Community Farm and Golden Dragon restaurant.
Sponsors
Barnes West is supported by the William Penn Foundation, PECO, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Spark Therapeutics, Inc. Lead support for community engagement and family programs at the Barnes is provided through the Comcast Center for Community Engagement at the Barnes. Generous endowment support for community engagement programs is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), and additional annual support for these programs comes from generous individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
Barnes West
Since 2018, Barnes West has presented multifaceted arts programming in West Philly, bringing artists, residents, and business owners together to celebrate culture, creativity, and community voice.
