Community Initiatives
Through a variety of initiatives, The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation supports a creative, culturally diverse, and pluralistic community. Our vision is to ensure that the arts are valued and embraced by all as a creative catalyst, driving innovation, inspiration, and action.
West Philadelphia Arts Initiative
In a collaboration with the Paul Robeson House & Museum, the Sachs Program established The West Philadelphia Arts Initiative in 2023 with a lead grant from the William Penn Foundation. The grant supported the creation of a West Philadelphia Arts Council intended to establish ongoing dialogue about the resources needed to support arts and culture in West Philadelphia and to manage a sub-granting program directly supporting artists and arts activities within the community. During the two-year project, the initiative awarded 34 grants totaling $85,000.
The William Penn Foundation grant also supported a new artist-in-residence program at the Paul Robeson House & Museum. In the spring of 2025, West Philadelphia-based visual and movement artist shanina dionna was the inaugural resident, programming a series of free, public workshops in collaboration with local visual artists, musicians, horticulturalists, entrepreneurs, clay makers, tea alchemists, yoga guides, and more.
Community Partnerships Grants
One of the largest grants we award each year, Sachs Program Community Partnerships Grants support meaningful collaborations and cultivate partnerships between the University of Pennsylvania and neighboring communities, encouraging non-hierarchical artistic and intellectual exchange.
Additional information on how to apply for a Community Partnerships Grant, as well as an archive of previously supported projects, can be found on the Sachs Program website.