Help The Art Bar Cafe bring Creativity to the Ave!
Donation protected
UPDATE: 2/19/2021:
I am SO EXCITED to share this! The Artist Bank Non-Profit is now raising money on behalf of our new venture, The Germantown ArtHaus!! What does that mean for donors?! TAX DEDUCTIBLE donations! 100% of donations will go towards restoring 6228 Germantown Avenue! In order to set it up, they started a new GOFUNDME via their profile. You can find it here: Give a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation here .
*********************************************************
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I remember participating in a "student strike " while in high school in 1996. We walked out of class and marched to city hall in Philadelphia with hundreds of other students passionate about the importance of the arts in education. We carried a coffin that some of the students made to visually illustrate what lack of funding was doing to the quality of education. We were dramatic like that.
Ever since funding for the arts decreased, finding a way to bring the arts to underserved communities, and making high-quality art accessible to the masses has been a personal mission of mine.
I WAS FORTUNATE, THOUGH
I attended the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts as a Visual Arts major, so my arts funding was pretty secure... but what about the other creatives across the city; the students who wouldn't attend school at all if it weren't for the arts classes offered?
My company, Custom Arts Studio, started in my living room in 2014, began hosting creative arts events, and partnering with local non-profit organizations and public schools to fulfill this mission: to make the arts accessible, expression possible and spread the spirit of creativity throughout the city.
My newest expression of my mission, The Germantown ArtHaus, complete with a coffee & smoothie bar, artist studios, a print shop, and a studio apartment/loft, is a manifestation of my commitment to merge community, and the arts. The Germantown ArtHaus will also provide local artists a place "that gets them" to consign their artwork; share it with a new market, and make money from their creativity.
The building is located at 6228 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Over time, we will offer an Artist in Residency program, and an internship program for local high school students interested in entrepreneurship. Our mission is to create a hub of creativity in the community all the while serving a yummy cup of Joe and excellent service!
The raised funds will be used to restore and renovate the 3-story 1900's Victorian building on bustling Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia. The building was formerly owned by the Swain family as a Print Shop and Accounting office. The building needs work "from soup to nuts", as they say (from the roof to the basement). We have secured funding for the purchase and we are set to close the sale on April 14th (Reach as High as You Can Day! *look it up!*) *happy clap*
THE CULMINATION OF A DREAM
We have been looking for a 3-story building for 3 years and it was serendipitous when we heard about this property's availability!... and a former Print Shop, no less! The owners of the Swain estate wanted an arts organization to purchase it so the beautiful building (complete with original wooden built-in shelving and storage) could be restored and brought back to its former glory. They were adamant that they did not want the building to be torn down and replaced. We will restore it with an artsy twist, of course!
THANK YOU IS NOT ENOUGH
Your donation will make a dream come true but not only for me; for countless artists, entrepreneurs and community stakeholders who yearn for a place like The Germantown ArtHaus; a place where their dreams can come true as well! I will be posting about the planning process here so you can follow along!
I am SO EXCITED to share this! The Artist Bank Non-Profit is now raising money on behalf of our new venture, The Germantown ArtHaus!! What does that mean for donors?! TAX DEDUCTIBLE donations! 100% of donations will go towards restoring 6228 Germantown Avenue! In order to set it up, they started a new GOFUNDME via their profile. You can find it here: Give a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation here .
*********************************************************
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I remember participating in a "student strike " while in high school in 1996. We walked out of class and marched to city hall in Philadelphia with hundreds of other students passionate about the importance of the arts in education. We carried a coffin that some of the students made to visually illustrate what lack of funding was doing to the quality of education. We were dramatic like that.
Ever since funding for the arts decreased, finding a way to bring the arts to underserved communities, and making high-quality art accessible to the masses has been a personal mission of mine.
I WAS FORTUNATE, THOUGH
I attended the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts as a Visual Arts major, so my arts funding was pretty secure... but what about the other creatives across the city; the students who wouldn't attend school at all if it weren't for the arts classes offered?
My company, Custom Arts Studio, started in my living room in 2014, began hosting creative arts events, and partnering with local non-profit organizations and public schools to fulfill this mission: to make the arts accessible, expression possible and spread the spirit of creativity throughout the city.
My newest expression of my mission, The Germantown ArtHaus, complete with a coffee & smoothie bar, artist studios, a print shop, and a studio apartment/loft, is a manifestation of my commitment to merge community, and the arts. The Germantown ArtHaus will also provide local artists a place "that gets them" to consign their artwork; share it with a new market, and make money from their creativity.
The building is located at 6228 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Over time, we will offer an Artist in Residency program, and an internship program for local high school students interested in entrepreneurship. Our mission is to create a hub of creativity in the community all the while serving a yummy cup of Joe and excellent service!
The raised funds will be used to restore and renovate the 3-story 1900's Victorian building on bustling Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia. The building was formerly owned by the Swain family as a Print Shop and Accounting office. The building needs work "from soup to nuts", as they say (from the roof to the basement). We have secured funding for the purchase and we are set to close the sale on April 14th (Reach as High as You Can Day! *look it up!*) *happy clap*
THE CULMINATION OF A DREAM
We have been looking for a 3-story building for 3 years and it was serendipitous when we heard about this property's availability!... and a former Print Shop, no less! The owners of the Swain estate wanted an arts organization to purchase it so the beautiful building (complete with original wooden built-in shelving and storage) could be restored and brought back to its former glory. They were adamant that they did not want the building to be torn down and replaced. We will restore it with an artsy twist, of course!
THANK YOU IS NOT ENOUGH
Your donation will make a dream come true but not only for me; for countless artists, entrepreneurs and community stakeholders who yearn for a place like The Germantown ArtHaus; a place where their dreams can come true as well! I will be posting about the planning process here so you can follow along!
Organizer
Keisha Denee Whatley
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
