2024 headlines that hit home

Milestones mark a banner year for NW Philadelphia arts

Quintessence buys a building, Woodmere expansion continues, festivals celebrate talent

by Donna Shaw and Carla Robinson
Posted 12/25/24

NW Philadelphia’s arts and cultural institutions celebrated significant achievements in 2024, from historic preservation victories to major grants and milestone anniversaries.

In a landmark development, the Quintessence Theatre Group finally secured its permanent Mt. Airy home after a four-year effort, purchasing the historic Sedgwick Theater building for $2.3 million. The acquisition preserves a piece of Philadelphia's architectural heritage while ensuring a stable future for the classical repertory company. The 1928 Art Deco structure's purchase was made possible through financing …

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2024 headlines that hit home

Milestones mark a banner year for NW Philadelphia arts

Quintessence buys a building, Woodmere expansion continues, festivals celebrate talent

Posted

NW Philadelphia’s arts and cultural institutions celebrated significant achievements in 2024, from historic preservation victories to major grants and milestone anniversaries.

In a landmark development, the Quintessence Theatre Group finally secured its permanent Mt. Airy home after a four-year effort, purchasing the historic Sedgwick Theater building for $2.3 million. The acquisition preserves a piece of Philadelphia's architectural heritage while ensuring a stable future for the classical repertory company. The 1928 Art Deco structure's purchase was made possible through financing from Mid Penn Bank and private donors, including crucial support from State Sen. Art Haywood, who helped secure $1.75 million in state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grants.

The theater's capital campaign received a notable boost from award-winning television, film and stage actor David Morse and his actor-writer wife, Susan Wheeler, who performed A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters" in a special benefit performance. The Northwest Philadelphia residents endorsed the project, stating, "Quintessence Theatre is an important part of the community and the Philadelphia theatre scene. We're happy to support them as they take their next big step as a vital regional theater."

Woodmere Art Museum embarked on a significant transformation of its own, announcing a streamlined identity as simply "Woodmere" while preparing for the 2025 opening of Frances M. Maguire Hall. The expansion, supported by a $150,000 grant, will add 17,000 square feet of gallery space to the Chestnut Hill institution that celebrates Philadelphia's artistic heritage.

The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill-based Crossing choir, under the direction of Germantown's Donald Nally, received a substantial $360,000 grant from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. The award, including $60,000 in unrestricted operating support, will fund the creation of "How to Survive," a new work conceived by conceptual artist Suzanne Bocanegra in collaboration with Nally and the choir.

Historic preservation received a significant boost as seven Northwest organizations shared in nearly $4 million in state grants from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. The Friends of Laurel Hill & West Laurel Hill Cemeteries led local recipients with $53,100, followed by Cliveden of the National Trust Inc. and Historic RittenhouseTown at $20,400 each. Stenton received $12,200, while the Wyck Association, Historic Germantown, and Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion Inc. were awarded amounts ranging from $6,500 to $8,100.

The year marked several significant anniversaries in the region's cultural calendar. The Philadelphia Ceili Group celebrated its 50th annual Irish Traditional Music and Dance Festival at Mt. Airy's Commodore John Barry Arts and Cultural Center, with Chestnut Hill's Courtney Malley and Germantown's Rosaleen McGill carrying on their parents' legacy in organizing the event.

The Pastorius Park Summer Concerts series reached an impressive 75-year milestone, maintaining its status as Philadelphia's longest-running free outdoor concert series. The 2024 season, presented by the Chestnut Hill Community Association and sponsored by Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital, continued its tradition of diverse musical offerings from classical to jazz against the backdrop of the park's natural beauty.

The Fall for the Arts Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary, transforming Germantown Avenue into an expansive outdoor marketplace featuring 275 vendors and artists, along with live demonstrations, children's activities, and musical performances.

Mt. Airy's cultural scene buzzed with multiple events. The third annual Mt. Airy Porchfest, founded by residents Tim Osborne and Lynda O'Leary in 2022, filled neighborhood streets with music as local performers turned front porches into impromptu stages from Cresheim Valley Road to Johnson Street. The Mt. Airy Art Garage hosted its fifth annual MAAG Rocks Art! event, showcasing 35 local artists and musicians in a celebration of the area's creative community.

The annual Mt. Airy Day brought the community together in a springtime celebration along Germantown Avenue between Mt. Pleasant Avenue and East Gorgas Lane. Organized by East Mt. Airy Neighbors, the festival featured more than 100 vendors offering food, crafts, and family activities, exemplifying the neighborhood's commitment to cultural engagement.

Northwest Philadelphia's dedication to preserving and promoting its rich cultural heritage was apparent throughout the year, as was its fostering of new artistic ventures. From securing permanent homes for established institutions to supporting emerging artists and maintaining cherished traditions, this region demonstrated its ongoing commitment to arts and culture as essential elements of community life.