Alliance works to revitalize community arts

In recent years many organizations have made efforts to improve the quality of life for residents of North, West and South Philadelphia. One such group -- the Community Alliance of the Philadelphia Arts Network -- may bring its goal of revitalizing and strengthening community arts to the University's campus. While the alliance has mainly been committed to working with the community outside of the University, Alliance Director Josey Stamm expressed interest in involving the University. "It would be wonderful to explore ways Penn could be involved," Stamm said. Stamm said she hopes that in the near future the group will be able to add the University to the alliance and help "create within the inner city a cadre of leaders who in turn can strengthen their respective cultural communities." The alliance was created in 1991 between the University of the Arts and six other community arts organizations to address a variety of issues including, "supporting the education of future professional artist-leaders through scholarships and student support services and address the underrepresentation of minorities in the visual arts," Stamm said. The other organizatons linked with the alliance are Point Breeze Performing Arts Center, Village for Arts and Humanities, Taller Puertorriqueno, West Philadelphia Cultural Allinace, Asian Americans United and Freedom Theater. Currently the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is presenting local artists works from the Celebrating the Arts Calendar Collection. The show will be open until February 19th at the University of the Arts. "The gallery is primarily to promote local non-profit organizations and Philadelphia artists," said Leah Douglas, director of exhibitions at the University of the Arts. "We also want to be more involved in the local community." Through the Village of Arts and Humanities, students and faculty from University of the Arts -- where the alliance is based -- have "worked . . . to transform abandoned lots in the area into horticultural gardens," Stamm said.

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