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:

An Endless Meeting: Collective Process, Artistic Labor, and the Politics of Working Together

Vox Populi

November 8 — December 31, 2025

Curatorial Open Call

“An Endless Meeting” is a multi-pronged project at Vox Populi that activates collective process as subject, form, and method through exhibitions, a curatorial residency, public programs, and a print publication that explore the politics of collectivity, inviting broad publics to reflect on their own experiences of working together.

Vox Populi is an evolving collective of artists dedicated to fostering experimental contemporary art through a non-hierarchical, inclusive, and equitable framework. Since 1988, Vox has served as a critical nexus within the Philadelphia arts ecosystem, presenting exhibitions, public programs, and performances, while remaining responsive to the shifting needs of our community.

🚨 Open Call: Curatorial Residency 2026 — An Endless Meeting 🚨

🗓️ Applications open 11/8/2026 –
📅 Deadline Dec 31, 2025
🔗 Apply via SlideRoom

Vox Populi is now accepting applications for a 2026 Curatorial Residency, part of Vox’s project An Endless Meeting: Collective Process, Artistic Labor, and the Politics of Working Together, featured within the citywide Collective Futures festival!

We’re inviting a curatorial duo — two artists/curators from a DIY space, artist-run initiative, or collective located 50+ miles outside Philadelphia — for a one-month residency (Aug 24–Oct 5, 2026).

Selected curators will collaborate with Vox members and Philly collectives to develop an exhibition opening October 2, 2026. Includes stipend, housing, travel, production support, and access to Vox’s community and resources.

If your work centers collective practice, cross-regional exchange, and the messy joy of collaboration then we want to hear from you!