Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – Barnes West Everyday Places Artist Partnerships

Barnes WEST, a collaboration between People’s Emergency Center CDC and the Barnes Foundation, is offering 5 artist partnership opportunities in West Philadelphia at everyday neighborhood places like grocery stores, restaurants, corner stores, and parks.

West Philly-based social impact artists from all disciplines are invited to submit proposals for the Everyday Places Artist Partnerships.

The goal of these opportunities is to provide West Philadelphia residents with spaces to engage in artistic projects that promote hope and healing. The arts have the power to effect social change by promoting understanding and dialogue about important social issues. Social impact artists are drivers of change within communities who develop artwork that engages with audiences and invites people to participate with various, relevant themes. Social impact artists demonstrate a history of, and commitment to, working with audiences as active participants in their work.

Selected artists will create enriching and exciting art experiences in collaboration with neighborhood merchants or community organizations for their customers and/or clients to:

Develop public performances to deepen relationships
Temporarily transform the physical space (ie. sculpture; art hangings)
Increase traffic and relationship-build through art workshops
Create a sense of hope, healing, and engagement

Expressed mediums of all kinds are welcome to submit, including sculptors, painters, mixed-media artists, actors, performers of all kinds, writers, musicians, and muralists. No matter the medium, proposals should include a project that is designed to include neighbors and residents in its creation and implementation.

NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES

4, in-person

1, virtual/hybrid

PROGRAM LENGTH

In-Person

3 Months (staggered)

Cycle 1: April-June
Cycle 2: May-July
Cycle 3: June-August
Cycle 4: July-September

Virtual

6 Months

April-September

STIPEND: $1500 plus up to $500 in supplies

*Housing is NOT provided as a part of this partnership program

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Since 2016, LoLa 38 has been People’s Emergency Center CDC’s creative placemaking initiative that works to support community assets that make Lower Lancaster Avenue a gateway to West Philadelphia’s arts, culture, and community. Formerly known as Barnes @ LoLa 38, Barnes West is a collaboration between LoLa 38 and the Barnes Foundation. The program has been serving West Philadelphia neighborhoods with artistic programming and opportunities, including Barnes Presents! events at The Bank since 2018.

The Barnes Foundation is home to the permanent collection of Dr. Albert C. Barnes (1872-1951) which includes a number of world-renowned European Impressionist; African; and Native American artworks. Founder of the Foundation, and also a chemist, art collector, and philanthropist, Dr. Barnes was passionate about promoting “arts for all” believing that art had the power to improve minds and transform lives. The partnership between the Barnes Foundation and People’s Emergency Center builds on the Foundation’s historical ties to West Philadelphia, as the neighborhood where Dr. Barnes introduced his method of art appreciation as a vehicle for civic engagement to his integrated factory force at the West Philadelphia production site. More information at barnesfoundation.org.

People’s Emergency Center’s mission is to nurture families, strengthen neighborhoods and drive change. In addition to serving families, children, and youth experiencing homelessness, the PEC Community Development Corporation programs respond to community needs and build on neighborhood assets (lancasteravephilly.com) to help bridge the digital divide, expand mixed-income housing opportunities, stimulate economic growth, create wealth, and improve the quality of life for all West Philadelphia residents.