A Space of One’s Own: Philadelphia Art Hotel

Featured Member Profile

Affordable, suitable spaces in which visual artists can live and work are difficult — even nearly impossible — to come by, depending on where you live. Making life a little easier for artists in the Philadelphia area are Krista Peel and Zak Starer, co-directors of the Philadelphia Art Hotel. This urban artist residency grants local, national, and international artists free temporary living and studio space so that they may fully concentrate on their art.

Zak, please tell us how the Philadelphia Art Hotel got its start.

The Philadelphia Art Hotel (PAH) developed out of a desire to move beyond our individual art practices. We wanted to create something that was broader and more beneficial to other artists and the community, yet wasn’t dependent on the commercial art world.

Krista and I had completed artist residencies in the past, but each one had shortcomings: too many expenses, too isolated, not enough emphasis placed on thoughtful art-making. These experiences, combined with the broader goal of starting a project beyond the traditional boundaries of the artist’s practice, led us to start our own artist residency.

We came up with a list of essentials to the program: inclusion of local, national and international artists, the arts community, the development of arts in an urban area, collaborations with artists, and public programming. We knew that it should be free of charge and that artists should contribute to the organization in more lasting ways, such as participating in public programs and donating work to PAH.

At this point we tried to determine where the project would take root. Because of our deep connections with the area, and because the city was without a residency program for young/emerging artists, we chose Philadelphia. It was the perfect place to begin.

We wanted to become a part of the local community, and intend to fully commit ourselves to seeing it develop artistically.

What kinds of residencies does PAH currently offer?

PAH offers residencies ranging from two to six weeks, depending on artist availability. Our residency season runs from mid-April through mid-October. The program is free of charge and is open to artists working in any medium, but restricted by the modest sizes of our studios.

Can you describe the arts scene in Philadelphia at the present moment?

The arts scene in Philadelphia is rapidly growing. It is a great city for artists to start projects in because there is space and funding available, as well as a general climate of receptiveness to new ideas. The city seems to be at a major turning point: from dependence on the impressionist and modernist works that are housed in its major institutions, toward an era of truly vibrant experimentalism and cooperation in the arts community.

What about in the East Kensington neighborhood where PAH is located?

Within this rich climate, East Kensington is one of the hubs of new development in the arts. It is a mixed-use neighborhood, with many old industrial buildings — remnants of its working class history — as well as traditional Philadelphia row houses. It is a hotbed of artist creativity, new collectives, and galleries, and is fast becoming the city’s main arts district outside of center city.

Zak, what’s your personal background in the arts and/or in nonprofits?

We are both practicing artists with fine arts degrees, and have experience showing work publicly. Krista has primarily worked in drawing, painting, and miniatures, and I work in the digital arts and installation. We’ve both had the pleasure of working with arts organizations and non-profits.

What has been your greatest success to date?

Realizing this dream is our greatest success so far. In one year we’ve moved into a new building, renovated it, had a full slate of artist residencies and positioned ourselves for a great second year.

What motivated you to become a member of Fractured Atlas?

Fractured Atlas allows burgeoning organizations to settle in and remain committed to their goals without having to wait many months and years to begin their work.

How does your Fractured Atlas membership benefit you?

It allows us to use fiscal sponsorship to solicit tax-exempt donations. We can also connect with other organizations and get assistance with legal questions.

Please finish the following sentence: “Art is important because…”

Art is important because it’s the only thing we have that isn’t bound by pragmatism.

What public programming has the Philadelphia Art Hotel had in the past and what will you offer in the coming year?

We’ve held artist lectures and public exhibitions, and we plan to have more lectures, exhibitions, workshops, salon-style critiques, and open studios. We’re also open to any new ideas that artists propose during their residencies.

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Learn more about the Philadelphia Art Hotel and its residency offerings on their website, by emailing them at philadelphiaarthotel@gmail.com, or by visiting their Facebook page.