Arts & Culture

UCD is pleased to announce the arrival of two new resources that will help visitors and residents alike take advantage of all that the neighborhood has to offer.

The University of Pennsylvania, The Rotunda, and University City District (UCD) are teaming up to bring a slate of free entertainment to the beautiful green space just behind the Walnut Street Free Library at 40th and Walnut Streets. On Saturday, July 25th, we are teaming with the University of Pennsylvania and the Rotunda to transform the green space behind the Walnut Street Free Library at 40th and Walnut into a free, family-friendly evening of entertainment for the entire community to enjoy.

The Philadelphia International Children’s Festival features an array of theatre, puppetry and live music performances. Plus, enjoy engaging and interactive activities in the outdoor FUN ZONE including crafts, face painting and jugglers. Tickets are $10-$12 and include access to the FUN ZONE! West Philly residents can get tickets for only $5!

Building on two years of creative momentum at The Porch at 30th Street Station, University City District (UCD) has announced a pair of arts funding opportunities for this vibrant public space.

FIGMENT is an explosion of creative energy. It's a free, annual celebration of participatory art and culture where everything is possible. This inaugural year in Philadelphia, it will transform Clark Park into a large-scale collaborative artwork. Over 40 projects by dozens of artists and teams will be placed throughout the park for you to explore.

University City District (UCD) is excited to unveil Looped In, an innovative new social seating structure poised to “pop-up” in University City public spaces. Seeking a unique and portable seating system that encourages gathering and interaction, UCD selected Brian Phillips and Interface Studio Architects (ISA) to conceptualize and design the structure, which also explores the intersection of art and functionality.

A cabin in Vermont, a beachfront house in the Outer Banks, an iPad, dinner at some of the city’s most scrumptious restaurants—these are just a few of the items that will be available at the University City Arts League’s 31st annual auction on June 1 from 6-10pm. This year’s auction will be at the beautiful Hall of Flags at Houston Hall, University of Pennsylvania. Free parking will be available at the Penn Museum garage at South Street and Convention Ave. Patrons will get parking passes as they check into the event.

As the Crow Flies & Co. are Mike & Wilder Scott-Straight. They make jewelry and children’s clothing respectively with a fresh vintage look. We search through flea markets and thrift shops to find china and unique children’s clothing. Mike finds just the right images to use from the china for necklaces and earrings, he also makes stained and painted glass earrings. Mike has been making stained glass jewelry for over 20 years, but just recently found his newest passion in china plates. They always were avid flea marketers and their house has always been full of wonderful vintage goods. About 5 years ago Wilder sadly broke a calendar plate from 1910. Mike (always the loving husband) decided to turn it into jewelry for her and a new interest in china turned into a new and exciting art form for him that expanded into where we are now.

All my designs are very girly, lacey and one of a kind! I take unique & vintage pieces and reconstruct them by cutting, dying and embellishing them to make the piece new again!

My name is Suzanne Francis, and I have been selling my linoleum & wood block prints on the streets of Philadelphia since about 1996. I also sell my cards at VIX and various historical sites around town.