Special Exhibitions
Special Exhibitions
As part of Art In City Hall's outreach efforts, the program continues to partner with the private sector, including arts organizations, community nonprofits and other City agencies to promote artistic development and appreciation. Past participants have been hospitals and health care centers, community art centers, senior centers, small arts organizations and schools for children with special needs. This component of the Art In City Hall program recognizes institutions and programs that utilizes the arts as a vehicle for community transformation improving the quality of life for Philadelphia citizens.
Begun in 2004, the first exhibition, Community Connections, featured 95 artists of all ages from six community art centers devoted to art education and cultural enrichment: Allens Lane Art Center, Coalition Ingenu, the West Philadelphia Art Alliance, Bridgeway, Center in the Park, and the University City Arts League.
In the Fall of 2004, Art In City Hall collaborated with Mayor John F. Street, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Galeria Herencia to promote Hispanic Heritage Month. Voices and Visions: A Celebration of Philadelphia's Hispanic Heritage featured the works of nine artists originally from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico.
The 2005 exhibition, Philadelphia Stories: Art Through the Ages, was a partnership with NewCourtland Elder Services. It featured the collaborative efforts of senior citizens and School District children working along side professional artists to produce site-specific work. Art In City Hall also collaborated with Cheyney University, the oldest Black institution of higher learning in America, to produce a student exhibition for Black History Month, a first for City Hall. Let Freedom Ring! Highlighted works by Cheyney University's Fine Art Honor Society.
In 2006, Art In City Hall teamed with the Dept. of Human Services in featuring photographs from Heart Gallery Philadelphia, an agency dedicated to promoting adoption. 27 photographic prints by local artists capture children in need of homes.
In 2007, Art In City Hall teamed up with the Free Library of Philadelphia's One Book One Philadelphia program by presenting the photographs of Harry Finkle in Philadelphia Mosaics: New Immigrants in Philadelphia. Other exhibitions include Art Ability, which is an exhibition presented by Bryn Mawr Rehab Center; and Outsider Art, an exhibition at the Welcome Center at 16th St. and JFK Blvd. by Coalition Ingenu.
In 2008, Art In City Hall recognized the artistic achievements of the Mural Arts Program's after school programs as well as the HMS School for Children With Cerebral Palsy. Newly-elected Mayor Michael A. Nutter welcomed the students and families of HMS to City Hall.
In 2009 participants:
The Photograhic Society of Philadelphia
The Health Federation of Philadelphia
Drexel University's Graduate Interior Design Program
The Park House Guides of Philadelphia Museum of Art
In 2010 participants:
The Arc of Philadelphia / Philadelphia Developmental Disabilities Corps
Prints Link Philadelphia collaborative
The Sketch Club