Barnes on the Block: A celebration of local art and music

The Barnes Foundation has announced the seventh annual Barnes on the Block in collaboration with Mural Arts Philadelphia.

On Sunday, July 14, from noon to 5 p.m., Barnes on the Block will return to 20th Street (between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Callowhill Street). The event will feature live music, food trucks, a beer garden, art-making activities, and free admission to the Barnes collection and exhibitions.

Barnes on the Block is a free block party presented by PNC Arts Alive that encourages neighbors to connect with one another in the name of creativity.

“In its seventh year, Barnes on the Block has become a fixture on Philly’s summer calendar, and we’re excited to partner with Mural Arts Philadelphia once again to bring the community together for a day of artful fun for the whole family,” says James Claiborne, deputy director for community engagement. “This year’s event is a true representation of the vibrancy of the city’s creative community, featuring a stellar lineup of Philadelphia artists, makers, and performers, along with delicious food and beverage options from local vendors.”

Among the many festive features is a beer garden presented by Constellation Culinary Group, featuring brews from local favorite Yards Brewing Co., including their Yards Bit Viper, Yards High Dive Summer Pils, and Yards Pale Ale. Other drinks will include Two Robbers vodka sodas, featuring cans inspired by Mural Arts; Surfside Vodka Iced Tea and Lemonade; a selection of French wines, including rosé, in celebration of Bastille Day; and Hibiscus Punch, featuring Tenango Rum, which was founded by El Merkury owner-chef Sofia Deleon in addition to non-alcoholic beverages.

Those in attendance will enjoy music and dance performances by Ben Arsenal, DJ Giz, TAMEARTZ, and more. There will also be live painting led by Mural Arts Philadelphia, a pop-up ceramics studio with The Clay Studio’s Claymobile, lantern decorating, personalized poems, and much more.

During Barnes on the Block, guests may enjoy free admission to the first floor of the Barnes Collection. This includes their new exhibition, ‘Matisse and Renoir: New Encounters at the Barnes’, which features renowned canvases from its modern European art collection. Guests may also enjoy an exhibition titled ‘Visions,’ which features original artwork created by participants in Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Guild program and artists at SCI Phoenix, southeast Pennsylvania’s maximum-security prison for men, on view in the first-floor classroom of the collection gallery.

“As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we are excited to once again collaborate with the Barnes Foundation for Barnes on the Block,” says Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “This family-oriented celebration of art and music will not only be fun but also highlight the power of art to unite our community. We hope people from every part of the city join us on this special day.”

Registration is required for access to the collection and exhibition, and capacity is limited. Free timed admission tickets will be available online beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 11.

Barnes on the Block will take place rain or shine. To find out more information, visit barnesfoundation.org