Mayor Michael A. Nutter will kick-off the summer 2012 portion of City Hall Presents today by attending a performance by three different percussion ensembles from across the city: Timbalona y su Bomba, KyoDaiko, and Troupe Da-Da. City Hall Presents is a new series of free concerts and events at City Hall showcasing Philadelphia’s world-class performing arts organizations. The program, hosted by Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, is made possible thanks to support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge, and from the William Penn Foundation.
“Philadelphia is known for its great artistic and cultural attractions,” said Mayor Nutter. “This summer concert and event series is an exciting addition to the robust arts and culture scene in our city, and I can’t think of a better place to host it than right here at City Hall – the people’s Hall. This will truly give everyone an opportunity to enjoy a free performance or activity in the coming months.”
City Hall Presents is producing 24 events throughout the year, featuring theater, dance, spoken word, performance art, and music of every genre. The eight summer shows will be held outdoors in the City Hall Courtyard, while spring events, which ran for seven Wednesdays between March and May, were staged in various indoor spaces in City Hall. Fall shows and a December holiday-themed show will also take place indoors. These events aim to further enliven the historic building, reflecting the full spectrum of the city’s artistic talent, and inspiring citizens to become more active patrons of – and participants in – the city’s arts and cultural offerings.
“The significance of hosting these events in City Hall goes far beyond the central location or the grand backdrop of the space itself,” Philadelphia’s Chief Cultural Officer, Gary Steuer, said. “It’s a way of reinforcing the critical role the arts play as a part of civic life.”
Jeremy Nowak, President of the William Penn Foundation, said, “Great cities are fertile ground for great art, and Philadelphia has much to be proud of in its incredibly vibrant cultural sector. It is terrific to see the city supporting and elevating the work of Philadelphia’s artists and performers, providing them with exposure and new opportunities to connect with audiences.”
City Hall has long been home to visual arts programming. The Art in City Hall program and the newly established Art Gallery at City Hall offer a full schedule of gallery exhibitions. City Hall Presents will build upon this artistic presence by creating an annual schedule of events spanning diverse artistic disciplines and cultural traditions. The artistic talents of Philadelphia’s youth will also be prominently featured.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge is a $9 million initiative supporting innovative projects that inspire and enrich Philadelphia’s communities.
Information on the summer performance line-up can be found by visiting http://cityhallpresents.creativephl.org/.
Artists and organizations interested in participating in City Hall Presents are requested to submit Expressions of Interest via online submission at http://creativephl.org/cityhallpresents.
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