reframe your perspective
Think you know Philly arts and culture? Get ready to think again. And again. And again.
A FESTIVAL DRAWN FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES
What Now projects will embody the visceral nature of living, being, and creating in the storied city of Philadelphia.
What Now projects will embody the visceral nature of living, being, and creating in the storied city of Philadelphia.
Our collaborators include WXPN, WRTI, The Museum of the American Revolution, The Mann Center, Anna Deavere Smith, PHILADANCO!, BalletX, First Person Arts, and MuralArts.
ArtPHilly: Sketch 2024
In May 2024, ArtPhilly teamed up with multidisciplinary artist Sebastienne Mundheim to transform the Neighborhood House in Old City into a sprawling papier-mache reflection of the Delaware River. This set the stage for our “coming out” party, Sketch, which offered a space for ArtPhilly artists to display works in progress and engage with other artists of Philadelphia.
The day-long event featured performances from our partners PHILADANCO!, the Philadelphia Young Playwrights, as well as a discussion from our curatorial team about upcoming projects forWhat Now.
WhatNow
In May of 2026, ArtPhilly will present our inaugural festival: What Now.
ArtPhilly is building up to a major city-wide multi-disciplinary arts festival in June 2026, just in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary. A lot has changed since 1776, so we’re asking artists from the city where it all started, What Now?
What Now represents a major collaborative moment in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. Through the festival’s widespread programming, creators’ voices will be foregrounded, placing artists, neighborhoods and arts organizations at the center of critical civic dialogue on the country’s past, present, and– most importantly– our future.
History and art are integral to Philadelphia’s identity. What Now weaves these legacies together by commissioning artists to interpret the complexities of this anniversary.
Let us know what you'll be up to in 2026.
