The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, in partnership with the Barnes Foundation, launches a new event series this fall, bringing its 2025 Pew Fellows in the Arts together for candid conversations about artistic practice, influence, and the questions behind their work.
With four planned events beginning on October 6, On Practice: Pew Fellows in Conversation represents the first collaborative public programming to be developed through the Center's operating partnership with the Barnes.
Event details and registration links follow below.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with the Barnes on these new programs offering an intimate look at the artists who are shaping Philadelphia’s cultural scene,” says the Center’s Executive Director, Christina Vassallo. “By connecting our deep commitment to supporting regional artists with the Barnes’ mission to make the arts accessible to all, this partnership offers a meaningful opportunity to connect artists and art enthusiasts while shining a spotlight on some of the city’s most accomplished creators.”
Supporting artists since 1992, the Pew Fellowships in the Arts program nurtures local artistic talent through 12 annual, unrestricted grants. Working in all artistic disciplines, Pew Fellows are visual artists, filmmakers, composers, theater makers, choreographers, writers, and more. As of 2026, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage has awarded 424 fellowships to artists living and working in the Philadelphia region.
Calendar of Events
All events are free with advance registration and held in the Barnes Foundation’s Comcast NBCUniversal Auditorium at 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
6:00-7:15 p.m.
Register here
Hear from choreographer and artist Jonathan González, filmmaker and multimedia visual artist Sosena Solomon, and visual artist and chef Omar Tate in a conversation exploring questions of aesthetic preservation, mythography, and cultural memory. James Claiborne, Fleischner Family Vice President for Engagement at the Barnes, moderates the discussion.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
6:00-7:15 p.m.
Register here
Director and performance artist Rose Jarboe, multidisciplinary artist José Ortiz-Pagán, and visual artist George Rodriguez discuss community-engaged creative practice and making work designed to contextualize and respond to public spaces. Zach Blackwood, Program Officer for Fellowships at The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, moderates the conversation.
Save the Dates
Two more events will be held in 2027 on Wednesday, March 10 and Wednesday, April 14. Speakers and moderators to be announced.