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:

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Muse Gallery

February 1 — March 1, 2026

Open Call

Muse Gallery invites artists affiliated with Philadelphia-area collectives, DIY, or
cooperative spaces—past or present—to submit work for a special exhibition
honoring the legacy and future of artist-run spaces in the city.

We honor Philadelphia’s rich history of artist-run spaces while spotlighting current
and emerging collectives. This exhibition invites reflection on shared experiences,
generational transitions, and future possibilities in our art community.

Each piece should represent one of the three timeframes: Yesterday, Today, or
Tomorrow, with an emphasis on (keep intergenerational) reflection and collaboration, highlighting the resilience of artists working together across time through economic, political, and cultural change.

Yesterday —historical or reflective work from earlier in the artist’s journey or
collective experience
Today — recent work engaging with current issues or practices
Tomorrow —experimental, or forward-looking work

Submission opens: February 2026

Established late in 1977, the Muse Gallery is an artists’ cooperative dedicated to encourage and promote its members’ artistic expression through abstract, conceptual and representational forms. Reflecting an aesthetic that awakens awareness, the Muse Gallery affirms the shared experience of art between the artist and the community.