Glen Foerd’s riverfront grounds will transform into a hub of music, art, and community next month as the historic estate celebrates 10 years of its signature arts program.
On Sunday, Oct. 5, the Northeast Philadelphia park and cultural site will host ArtsFest 2025, a free, family-friendly festival marking a decade of Glen Foerd’s Artist in Residence program. The event, running from 1 to 4 p.m., invites visitors to spread out on the Delaware River lawn with blankets and chairs, explore the mansion, and enjoy an afternoon of music, food, and fun.
Headlining the entertainment is Guachinangos, a local band known for its high-energy performances blending Latin and Caribbean influences. Food and drinks will be provided by The Clean Plate Club, and kids can dive into arts activities designed to spark creativity.
Residencies on display
The highlight of the afternoon will be inside the mansion, where Glen Foerd’s 2025 Artists in Residence will unveil their final projects. Their work, displayed throughout the house, represents the culmination of months of reflection and creation inspired by the site’s unique setting and history.
“The Artist in Residence program at Glen Foerd has evolved a lot since 2015, but the heart of it has remained the same,” said Isabel Brown, Arts and Culture Program Officer. “It’s been an honor to collaborate with so many artists to reimagine the layered histories of this site. Although recent funding cuts pose a serious challenge, we are committed to seeing another 10 years of transformative art at Glen Foerd.”
Founded as a public park and nonprofit cultural venue, Glen Foerd has become a gathering place where art, history, and community meet. ArtsFest—part celebration, part showcase—offers neighbors and visitors a chance to experience that mission.
Meet the artists
Glen Fored’s Performing Artist in Residence, Lauren Putty White, is a Philadelphia-based dancer and choreographer with an M.F.A. in Dance from Montclair State University. White has performed internationally with Parsons Dance and PHILADANCO, choreographed for Ballet X and Grace Dance Theatre, and co-founded the Putty Dance Project, merging live jazz with improvisational dance. She teaches at Stockton University and specializes in Free Form Body Motifs, improvising movement to Free Jazz.
Visual Artist in Residence Erik Ruin is a Philadelphia-based printmaker, shadow puppeteer, and paper-cut artist. Praised by ‘The New York Times’ for his “spell-binding cut-paper animations,” Ruin explores themes of apocalypse, utopia, empathy, and collective imagination. He co-founded the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative, co-authored ‘Paths Toward Utopia’ (2012), and leads the Ominous Cloud Ensemble, which integrates projections and sound in dynamic performances.
And finally, Teaching Artist in Residence Cory Kram is a multi-disciplinary artist working in sculpture, painting, and fiber. Kram incorporates found objects into her work and has exhibited in Philadelphia, New York, Romania, and Denmark. She curates exhibits for nonprofits like The Kensington Storefront and Broad Street Ministry and is deeply engaged in community artmaking through Mural Arts’ Color Me Back program.
If you go
ArtsFest 2025 at Glen Foerd will take place on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 1 to 4 p.m. Glen Foerd is located at 5001 Grant Ave. in Northeast Philadelphia.
At 1:30 p.m., Kram will be sharing the cumulative artwork from her series of community workshops inspired by found objects. The presentation takes place in the upstairs Gold Room. Ruin will present the installation Songs of Enclosure and Exclosure, at 2 p.m. in the upstairs Print Room. And throughout the afternoon, video excerpts from Putty White’s dance performance, “Dream Etched in a Memory,” will be on view in the dining room.
For more information, visit glenfoerd.org/events, or call 215-632-5330.
