Philadelphia Art Alliance facts for kids
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Wetherill mansion, built 1906
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| Former name | The Philadelphia Art Alliance |
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| Established | 1915 |
| Location | 251 South 18th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
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| Designated: | April 28, 1970 |
The Philadelphia Art Alliance at University of the Arts is a special place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's an art center where you can experience many kinds of art. This includes visual art, writing, and live performances. It's actually the oldest center of its kind in the United States!
Contents
The Art Alliance Story
The Philadelphia Art Alliance started in 1915. A woman named Christine Wetherill Stevenson founded it. She loved theater and helped many good causes. On September 27, 1915, the organization officially received its charter. At that time, it had 50 members.
Early Plans and Goals
In December 1915, the alliance bought a building on Walnut Street. This was in the Rittenhouse Square area of Philadelphia. They wanted to make it their main home. They even showed models of their planned building. This was at a big civic event in 1916. Members hoped their new building would become known as the "Art Center of America."
Connecting Art and People
In January 1917, the alliance started "sociable luncheons." These events helped important people in Philadelphia learn about art and music. The first speaker was Olga Samaroff. She was a famous American pianist and music critic. She talked about how music and other arts are connected.
In 1924, the alliance created a club for businessmen. It encouraged them to try painting and sculpture. This helped them enjoy art more. It also gave them a relaxing hobby.
By the end of the 1920s, the alliance had grown a lot. It had 2,500 members!
Honoring Artists and Exhibitions
The alliance also gave out awards. In 1925, they gave the Eurydice Chorus Award to Franz Bornschein. He was honored for setting a poem to music for women's voices.
The alliance helped artists show their work. In 1937, they sent 52 paintings by Pennsylvania artists to the State Museum of Pennsylvania. This was for a summer art show. Members also showed their art in other places. For example, John J. Dull's watercolors were shown at Texas Christian University in 1944.
In 1958, the alliance honored Mary Louise (Curtis) Bok Zimbalist. She founded the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She received the Philadelphia Art Alliance Medal of Achievement. This award was for her great work in the arts.
In December 1959, the alliance hosted a special art show. It was called the Contemporary Israeli Art Exhibition. It featured 58 paintings from Israel.
In January 1968, the famous actress Helen Hayes received an award. The alliance gave her the Award of Merit. This was for her amazing work in theater. She was known as the "First Lady of American Theatre."
The Alliance Today
The alliance is located in a beautiful old building. It's called the Wetherill mansion. It was built in 1906. This building is very important. It was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1970. It's also part of a larger historic area.
Today, the alliance hosts many events. You can see art exhibits, theater workshops, and music concerts. They also have poetry readings and lectures. In 2018, the Philadelphia Art Alliance joined the University of the Arts. Now it's known as The Philadelphia Art Alliance at University of the Arts.
