National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman toured Philadelphia yesterday, exploring our city's murals and Crane Arts Building as part of his "Art Works" tour.

He cited Philadelphia as an example of the kinds of changes in arts policy he is trying to implement, saying, "I don't know how many times I've said it in the last few months: 'We've got to look at what they're doing in Philadelphia.'"

Go Philly!

Read the article from the Inquirer here: www.philly.com/philly/news/local/86128427.html

And read Rocco Landesman's post about Philadelphia on the Art Works blog here: http://www.arts.gov/artworks/?p=954

Are you an artist considering a show for the Philly Fringe this year, but are new to the Festival and unsure if you can?

Come meet the Fringe staff and have all your questions answered at the New Artist Workshop. We positioned this workshop before the participation deadline, giving you three whole weeks to decide!

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 @ 6:00 PM
The Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe Administrative Offices
919 N 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Pizza & refreshments served.
Please RSVP to John: john@livearts-fringe.org

Spontaneous dancing erupted in the Mayor's Reception Room this morning upon the announcement of a project that will place a vibrant new work of community-based public art on the parking decks facing Interstate 95 at the Philadelphia International Airport. We're talking about a 50,000 square foot mural, incorporating the photographic work of its designer, artist Jacques-Jean "JJ" Tiziou.

Scheduled for completion in June 2011, this project is set to be one of Philadelphia Mural Arts' greatest accomplishments as it transforms a highly visible, dull facade:


into a brilliant representation of our city's life, culture, community, and artistic vision:



Visit This Page to learn more. And see the video in our previous blog entry.
Congratulations to Philadelphia Mural Arts and to JJ Tiziou!

Looks like Philadelphia Magazine is on to us.

Open this month's issue to Brooke De La Villanova's High Society column in the "Pulse" section, and here's what you'll find:

High Society: February 2010

By Brooke De la Villanova

How I love artsy people! Restaurant glamour-puss Audrey Claire threw a launch party that drew power couple Sharon Pinkenson and Joe Weiss, legal eagle Bernie Munley, entrepreneur David Grasso, Memphis Flats developer Greg Hill, Fringe-y Nick Stuccio, and Stephen Starr, among others. Being launched: Feastival, which despite its Seinfeldian name promises to be delish. On September 15th, 25 top chefs will whip up edgy fare in Northern Liberties to raise money for the edgy Live Arts and Philly Fringe festivals. Bon appetit, munchkins. ....

"High Society", indeed. For more info on this star-studded evening, Click Here!

From Philly Metro, Thursday, January 28, 2010:

"Reasons it was fun to live, work, and play in Philly
Why have we all had such a good time in Philly over the past decade? Here's just 10 of the reasons for it
#1 Tables turned: Thanks to powerhouses such as Stephen Starr; Marc Vetri; Jose Garces and Michael Solomonov, not even New York can pretend we don't have a dining scene to reckon with these days.
...
#3 Philadelphia Live Arts/Philly Fringe festival: This gigantic gathering of local, international, amateur and professional artists has been kicking since 1997, but it gets a little bigger, a little weirder, and a little more can't-miss every year."

But here's what the Metro doesn't know (yet!): Those powerhouse restaurateurs are in partnership with this year's festival, to bring you Feastival.
For more info on what will be the #1 reason it's fun to live, work, and play in Philly in 2010, CLICK HERE