About The Art Walk of Philadelphia

The Art Walk of Philadelphia, originally launched as the U-City Art Walk, is a creative platform and cultural event initiative founded in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when artists, makers, and small businesses were facing widespread loss of work and opportunity, the platform was created to provide a space where creativity could still thrive and where independent creatives could continue to earn a living.

What began as a grassroots gathering of artists and vendors in Powelton Village at the corners of 37th Street, Lancaster Avenue, and Powelton Avenue quickly grew into a recognized creative hub. Month after month, artists, designers, makers, and small businesses set up along the corridor to present one-of-a-kind pieces, handmade goods, fashion, artwork, and cultural experiences directly to the public.

Today, the platform has evolved into The Art Walk of Philadelphia, expanding beyond its original neighborhood roots while maintaining its mission of supporting artists and independent creatives across the city. The Art Walk continues to serve as a visible cultural marketplace where emerging talent, community entrepreneurship, and creative expression intersect.

Our mission remains simple: to uplift artists, creatives, and small businesses while creating opportunities for them to grow, connect, and be seen. Through recurring vendor markets, cultural programming, and neighborhood activations, the platform highlights both established and emerging talent from Philadelphia and the surrounding tri-state region.

Located in the vibrant heart of University City, the original Art Walk location attracts a wide range of visitors—from neighboring creatives and local residents to students from Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania, along with everyday city professionals and frontline workers moving through the corridor. The platform has also benefited from partnerships with nearby small businesses, including community staple Cocos Cookies & Creamery, which helped support the early growth of the event.

The space itself forms a unique square-like corridor stretching between 37th Street, Lancaster Avenue, and Powelton Avenue, creating an island of creative activity where students, entrepreneurs, artists, and neighbors gather. What started as a response to crisis has grown into a living cultural platform—one that celebrates Philadelphia’s creative energy and continues to build opportunities for artists to connect directly with their community.

As The Art Walk of Philadelphia grows, the platform continues to expand its vision through larger cultural activations, public art programming, and community-focused events that keep creativity visible and accessible throughout the city.