Collective Futures

is a city-wide celebration of Philadelphia’s vibrant network of artist-run spaces, DIY venues, and community-driven art initiatives. Taking place over six weeks in fall 2026, the festival will showcase the creative power of collectivity through exhibitions, workshops, performances, and public programs that engage both local and national audiences.

Bringing together more than 25 independent spaces and organizations, Collective Futures highlights the vital role of grassroots initiatives in shaping civic dialogue, cultural innovation, and community resilience. With a focus on supporting underrepresented artists and amplifying local voices, the festival will activate neighborhoods across the city—including Kensington, North Chinatown, West Philly, Fishtown, and Old City—creating accessible, neighborhood-based cultural experiences.

Coinciding with the celebrations surrounding America’s 250th birthday, Collective Futures situates Philadelphia’s artist-run ecosystem within a broader national conversation about democracy, creativity, and collective care.

At its core, the project is a multifaceted exploration of collective practices, storytelling, and the intersections of art, community, and infrastructure. Rooted in collaboration and experimentation, it seeks to amplify diverse perspectives while fostering connections between local and national networks. Through exhibitions, publications, and public programs, Collective Futures investigates the inner workings, histories, and creative processes of collectives—centering storytelling as a tool for cultural preservation and expression. Using oral histories, printmaking, and site-specific artworks, the festival will illuminate the interplay between artists, communities, and their environments.

By combining critical reflection with artistic production, Collective Futures aims to create a blueprint for equitable and sustainable collaboration—reimagining how art can mobilize resources, deepen connections, and envision transformative futures.

Collective Futures

is:

Grizzly Grizzly

Grizzly Grizzly is an artist collective in Philadelphia, PA. We are all practicing artists who also curate exhibitions, performances, and alternative programming. Using the creative problem-solving skills needed in our daily studio practices, we create a meeting-ground for dialog and a space for innovative work without the constraints of institutional agendas or commercial interests.

We are a collective of sharp edges, committed to frank discussion and unexpected pairings. We do not strive for consensus; we do not show our own work in the space. We are artists curating other artists, supporting a community of makers from within. GrizzlyGrizzly’s ongoing mission is to blur organizational lines, promote community, and–above all–take risks. In our intimate exhibition space, we build new connections between artists, curators, and our greater community, here in Philadelphia and beyond.

Grizzly Grizzly began in 2009 and is currently under the stewardship of Erin Boyle, Jo Cordasco, Amy Hicks, Diedra Krieger, Amy LaViers, Giulia Livi, Paige Morris, Guava Rhee, Maddie Jones Rodriguez, Jayne Struble, and Ari Zuaro.