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:
- 2C Books / Marginal Utility
- 5U Space
- AUTOMAT Collective
- Batikh Batikh
- Big Ramp
- Biomaterials Working Group
- BYO printmaking collaborative
- Center for Emerging Visual Artists
- cinéSPEAK
- City Arts Salon LLC
- Da Vinci Art Alliance
- Fable Encounters
- Fairmount House
- FJORD
- FORTUNE
- Gravy Studio
- Grizzly Grizzly
- Icebox Project Space
- Luster Gallery
- Muse Gallery
- Paradigm Gallery + Studio
- Peep Projects
- People’s Music Supply
- Pink Noise Projects
- Practice
- Second State Press
- Space 1026
- Termite TV Collective
- Tiger Strikes Asteroid Philadelphia
- Ulises
- Vox Populi
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