Arts and culture in Kensington, Philadelphia — murals, music, Taller Puertorriqueño, galleries, festivals and creative life in the neighborhood.
The print shop started with a copy machine in a living room almost 20 years ago.
Community Life
A creative reuse center on North American Street near Berks Street, the store sells donated art and building materials at a discount.
Community Life
East Kensington transformed into a glowing outdoor gallery as moving projections lit up building facades along Frankford Avenue and Hagert Street. Around 30 artists participated in the free festival, which organizers hope to make annual.
Community Life
The annual festival brought together vendors, live music and neighbors, doubling as a kickoff for local America 250 celebrations.
Public Space
The walking tour introduced preteens to the history in their own neighborhood — from abolition-era organizing to the messages still painted on today’s walls.
Accountability
A Philadelphia school district official admitted the district has neglected Stetson’s building for decades. Students and educators questioned the district’s data and scoring of the school’s capacity.
Arts & Culture
Neighbors and community organizers gathered at the Kensington Engagement Center to kick off Co-Creating a Greenprint for Kensington, a workshop series organized by NKCDC focused on expanding and improving safe public green spaces.
Arts & Culture
Philadelphia school communities are pushing back against the district’s plan to close 20 schools. At Conwell Middle School, community leaders urged the district not to take resources away from the neighborhood.
Arts & Culture
Over 25% of West Kensington residents don’t have a high school diploma. Embedded advisers and support could help students overcome poverty and other systemic barriers, experts say.
A key member of the Philadelphia City Council has already expressed opposition to parts of the district’s plan to close, relocate, and co-locate several schools.
Arts & Culture
The proposal would have a particularly large impact on middle schools, with more than a dozen elementary schools turning into K-8 schools.
A year in photographs from the neighborhood, made close and over time.
Small Business
This year’s holiday gift guide highlights creative, hyperlocal gifts that support Kensington’s artists, makers, and small businesses.
Arts & Culture
Neighbors gathered along North 5th Street for the 41st annual Feria del Barrio, celebrating Latinx culture through music, dance, and art.
Small Business
What began as a small salvage business in 2016 has grown into a community cornerstone. George Mathes’ Thunderbird LLC now unites Kensington through vintage treasures and local events.
Arts & Culture
Voters turned out with the hopes of retaining Pennsylvania's Supreme Court Justices, and some were inspired by New York’s history-making mayoral election.
Arts & Culture
The Emerald Street Community Farm will race in the Kensington Derby and Arts Festival on Saturday October 25th.
Arts & Culture
Students of all ages closed out their Bomba and Plena classes with a recital in North Philadelphia organized by the Philly Bomba Plena Cultural Center.
Arts & Culture
Although there is no single way to define a culture, Philadelphia is home to thousands of individuals who express their identity in different ways where 16% of the population identifies as Latine.
Small Business
Crystal Ortiz, owner of candle-making shop Waxery, opened her business as a way to give back to her community and make a space for residents to have fun not too far from home.
Arts & Culture
Community storytelling and cultural preservation matter. Organizations like Taller Puertorriqueño are doing that work through arts, early childhood programs, oral histories, and cultural events.
Arts & Culture
The Harrowgate area will see increased funding as part of the City of Philadelphia's celebration of America's 250th birthday.
Arts & Culture
Neighbors came together at Taller for a night of music, food, and connection. Celebrating the cultural ties between Norris Square and Puerto Rico.
Arts & Culture
Sunday’s performance concludes BoriCorridor’s 2025 tour, which aims to connect the Puerto Rican diaspora everywhere through the arts.
