Fleisher Art Memorial

Fleisher Art Memorial is an arts center and school at 719 Catharine St in Philadelphia’s Bella Vista neighborhood. Its classes span drawing, painting, ceramics, photography, sculpture and dance, with free or low-cost ways to take part. Inside a four-building complex that includes a former church and college, you can also see gallery exhibitions and attend events. The annual holiday market brings together local makers selling handmade work in materials such as clay, glass, fabric and wood.

A four-building arts center

Fleisher Art Memorial is in Bella Vista, South Philadelphia. The complex comprises four buildings, including the former Church of the Evangelists and St. Martin’s College for Indigent Boys. Their different architectural styles reflect the site’s varied past.

The galleries have shown work by artists including Violet Oakley and Henry Chapman Mercer. Exhibitions can also coincide with events: the annual holiday market, for example, has been held alongside an exhibition of adult students’ work, with pieces available for sale.

Classes and community events

Classes cover subjects such as drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and dance. The program includes free or low-cost opportunities, as well as workshops with tuition. Taking a class is one way to spend time making art and meet people from different backgrounds.

Fleisher also hosts festivals and creative markets. Its annual holiday market brings Philadelphia artists and makers together to sell handmade goods, including work in fabric, clay, glass and wood. One edition was organized with El Mercado Cultural, an initiative that shares creative and marketing resources with Latinx entrepreneurs.