ArtPhilly Festival Launches with Radical Reclamation of US History
The inaugural ArtPhilly festival, titled 'What Now: 2026,' opened on May 27 and runs through July 2 in Philadelphia, featuring over 30 original commissions across the city. The festival offers an alternative to the US 250th anniversary celebrations, focusing on radical reclamation rather than nationalism. Highlights include indira allegra's 'Sail Through This to That,' a procession honoring Ona Judge and Dominique 'Rem'mie' Fells; Colette Fu's pop-up book 'Iron and Paper' at the Crane Community Center, tracing Philadelphia Chinatown's history; and Tommie-Waheed Evans's dance 'in case of fire, speak,' performed by the Martha Graham Dance Company and PHILADANCO! with music by Uwazi Zamani. The festival is planned as a biennial.
Key facts
- ArtPhilly's first edition is titled 'What Now: 2026'.
- The festival features more than 30 original artistic commissions.
- It runs from May 27 to July 2 in Philadelphia.
- indira allegra's 'Sail Through This to That' honors Ona Judge and Dominique 'Rem'mie' Fells.
- Colette Fu's pop-up book 'Iron and Paper' is displayed at the Crane Community Center.
- Tommie-Waheed Evans choreographed 'in case of fire, speak' for Martha Graham Dance Company and PHILADANCO!.
- The festival is planned as a biennial.
- The writer's travel and accommodations were paid for by ArtPhilly.
Entities
Artists
- indira allegra
- Evangeline Getty Brooks
- Colette Fu
- Bradley Litwin
- Tommie-Waheed Evans
- Uwazi Zamani
- Martha Graham
- Ona Judge
- Dominique 'Rem'mie' Fells
- Tricia Hersey
- Louis Armstrong
- Woody Guthrie
- Nas
- Erykah Badu
- Nina Simone
- Ruth Naomi Floyd
- Anna Deavere Smith
- Chef Valerie Erwin
- John Coltrane
- Marian Anderson
- Dominique Rem'mie Fells
- George Washington
- Martha Washington
- Dinah
- Basil Biggs
- Roberto Clemente
- Will Smith
Institutions
- ArtPhilly
- Hyperallergic
- Martha Graham Dance Company
- PHILADANCO!
- Crane Community Center
- Nap Ministry
- Fabric Workshop and Museum
- Museum Studio and Traditional Rigging Co.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
- Middleton Family Collection
- Meantime
- ISA
- YOWIE Hotel
- Elsewhere
- Philadelphia Latino Arts and Film Festival
- Stenton Mansion
- Clubfriends Radio & Records
- Rarify
- Siddiq's Water Ice
- Forbes
Locations
- Philadelphia
- United States
- Delaware River
- Schuylkill River
- New Hampshire
- Chinatown (Philadelphia)
- President's House (Philadelphia)
- New York City
- Appleton, ME
- Spruce Street Harbor
- Germantown
- Philadelphia's Chinatown
- Market East
- Center City
- Roberto Clemente Park
- Puerto Rico
- Canada
- Europe