Words and video by Streets Dept Founder/ Editor Conrad Benner.

With conversations about the Arena and the future of Market Street taking over social media the last few days–we should also be fighting for the future of the “Avenue of the Arts,” if we want it to remain a resource for Philly’s working artists. 

Here’s what’s happening: all the former University of the Arts buildings are currently going through a bankruptcy proceeding that will sell them off to the highest bidder(s). And right now, this is favoring developers who very likely want to turn many of these art spaces into luxury hotels and condos and/or leave them vacant for years while their value appreciates and desired market conditions are met. 

The amount of space at stake with these former UArts buildings is actually more than the Arena ever proposed. And so much of the unique infrastructure in these buildings was designed specifically for artists and creatives. These kinds of spaces are rare and important to the future of Philly’s arts and culture. By not working to readapt them for Philly’s working artists communities we would only be compounding the devastation created by the closing of UArts. 

There are groups, like Lindsey Scannapieco‘s Scout and the Curtis Institute of Music, who are bidding to keep these vital spaces as resources for Philly’s arts communities. But here’s the truth: without stronger philanthropic support (and yelling from all of us), they will almost definitely lose out to developers who want to adapt them primarily for luxury uses.  

What is the Avenue of the Arts without working artists? I don’t want to find out. And as most of us probably aren’t philanthropists, all I can do right now is help spread the word. If you’re also concerned about the loss of these spaces, feel free to share.