Avenue of the Arts
Avenue of the Arts is the cultural corridor along South Broad Street in Philadelphia, stretching from City Hall to Washington Avenue and featuring the city's greatest concentration of performing arts venues, theaters, and cultural institutions. The designation, formalized in the 1990s through significant public and private investment, transformed Broad Street's southern stretch into a world-class performing arts district that has become central to Philadelphia's cultural identity and economic revitalization efforts.[1]
History
The Avenue of the Arts concept emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s as Philadelphia sought to revitalize its Center City core. While Broad Street had always hosted significant cultural institutions—the Academy of Music opened in 1857—the coordinated development of the corridor as a unified cultural district represented a new approach to urban planning and cultural investment.[1]
The Regional Performing Arts Center (now the Kimmel Center) became the anchor project, breaking ground in 1998 and opening in 2001. The $265 million venue provided a permanent home for the Philadelphia Orchestra and created a landmark that signaled the corridor's transformation. Public investment in streetscape improvements, lighting, and pedestrian amenities complemented the major venue construction.[1]
Subsequent development added the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Philadelphia Theatre Company), Merriam Theater renovations, and numerous restaurants and hotels catering to cultural audiences. The corridor's success demonstrated how strategic cultural investment could catalyze broader economic development.[1]
Major Venues
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
The Kimmel Center, designed by Rafael Viñoly, anchors the Avenue at Broad and Spruce Streets. The complex includes Verizon Hall (home of the Philadelphia Orchestra), the Perelman Theater, and SEI Innovation Studio. The distinctive glass-vaulted roof creates a dramatic presence on the streetscape.[1]
Academy of Music
The Academy of Music, opened in 1857, is the oldest opera house in the United States still used for its original purpose. The venue hosts the Pennsylvania Ballet and Opera Philadelphia while serving as a National Historic Landmark that predates and inspired the Avenue of the Arts concept.[1]
Merriam Theater
The Merriam, operated by the Kimmel Cultural Campus, presents touring Broadway productions, concerts, and special events. The 1918 venue (originally the Shubert Theatre) continues Philadelphia's tradition as a tryout city for Broadway-bound productions.[1]
Wilma Theater
The Wilma Theater, in its purpose-built venue since 1996, presents contemporary and classic theater with emphasis on international work and Philadelphia premieres. The company has earned national recognition for artistic innovation.[1]
Cultural Impact
The Avenue of the Arts has concentrated cultural activity that supports Philadelphia's identity as a major arts destination. The walkable proximity of venues enables audiences to attend multiple events and supports restaurants, hotels, and parking facilities that depend on cultural traffic. This ecosystem creates employment and tax revenue while enhancing quality of life.[1]
The corridor's success has influenced development beyond the designated boundaries, with cultural venues and arts organizations locating nearby to benefit from association with the Avenue. The Philadelphia Film Center and other institutions have extended the cultural cluster north and south of the original corridor.[1]
See Also
- Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
- Academy of Music
- Philadelphia Orchestra
- Broad Street
- Center City, Philadelphia