ArtWell

Meet the featured artist for our upcoming Poetry & Art Show! Faridah Ismalia is a 15-year-old artist, entrepreneur, and community leader whose creativity is rooted in both expression and service. Faridah has been painting since she was a toddler and is the founder of A Paint-full of Promise, a nonprofit that provides free art supplies and monthly art classes for K–6 students at Great Valley High School.

What began as a summer camp in her garage during the pandemic has grown into a beautiful space where young people can explore creativity, build confidence, and express themselves through art. In addition to teaching, Faridah also shares her work through Faridah’s Art, where her artwork appears on totes, bags, shirts, and more. We’re honored to feature Faridah’s work at ArtWell’s Annual Poetry & Art Show as we celebrate 25 years of uplifting young voices through creativity and community.

Join us at the opening reception on Sunday, May 31, from 1–4 PM at The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design! It will be a joyful, family-friendly celebration of our young artists—their voices, stories, imagination, and visions for the future. Expect live performances and immersive art experiences. It will be a beautiful afternoon rooted in creativity and community.

Click the link in our bio for tickets! https://bit.ly/4x006vq

It’s almost time! Join us in celebrating the power of youth creativity at our annual ArtWell Poetry & Art Show. We’re honored to welcome Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate Rashawn Dorsey as one of this year’s featured performers. Rashawn is a two-time slam poetry champion of the Philly Slam League. He has hosted and performed for numerous events, including City Hall, Alpha Phi Alpha’s Voter Registration Drive, and the Mental Health Fair Fest.

The opening reception is on Sunday, May 31, from 1–4 PM at The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design! It will be a joyful, family-friendly celebration of our young artists, their voices, stories, imagination, and visions for the future. Expect live performances and immersive art experiences. It will be a beautiful afternoon rooted in creativity and community.

As ArtWell celebrates 25 years, this event also honors the community that continues to shape and inspire our work. Come celebrate with us!

Click here for tickets! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artwell-poetry-and-art-show-tickets-1989299397047

Calling all creatives, dreamers, and storytellers! Join us during the 2026 Poetry & Art Show exhibit week for an inspiring series of FREE workshops designed to spark your imagination and celebrate your creativity. Sign up for one workshop or experience them all! Each event takes place at The Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design, surrounded by powerful poetry and artwork created by talented K–12 students from across Philadelphia.

Workshops:

Lyrical Fragments: A Collage Making Workshop - Tuesday June 2nd, 5–7 PM
In this workshop led by Destiny Crockett, you’ll begin by reflecting on a poem by a Philly-born poet before creating our own collages that combine the abstract with the figurative.

Artbreak with ArtWell: Creating Fabric Mosaic Collages– Wednesday June 3rd, 12–2 PM. During this event, attendees will use scraps of fabric, paint markers, and thread to create a textile wrapped canvas piece.

The Art of Roses: Floral DesignWorkshop – Thursday June 4th, 5–7 PM
Led by Essence McCants learn how to reflex roses! At this creative floral design workshop, attendees will get to make a rose bouquet and add embellishments such as jewels, pearls, glitter, and paint.

The Ekphrastic Eye: Writing After Art– Friday, June 5th, 5–7 PM
Hosted by Elijah Mosley, explore the relationship between visual arts and poetry! Learn about ekphrastic poetry and compose original poems inspired by art in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Come create, connect, and be inspired in a space filled with young artistic brilliance. Spots are limited. Register now to claim yours! https://linktr.ee/artwellphilly

ArtWell’s Poetry & Art Show is happening on Sunday, May 31st at The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design (), and you won’t want to miss it! We’re honored to announce our feature poet: Yolanda Wisher (yolandawisher).

A Philadelphia-rooted poet, musician, and cultural leader, Yolanda brings a powerful blend of poetry and song to the stage. A former Philadelphia Poet Laureate and the inaugural Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, she is the author of Monk Eats an Afro and has shared her work everywhere from major literary journals to national media. Known for her dynamic performances with her band, Yolanda Wisher & The Afroeaters, she continues to push the boundaries of spoken word and sound. Don’t miss this chance to experience her work live alongside an afternoon of art, poetry, and community.

We'll announce the full lineup of performers soon, so stay tuned! And join us for an afternoon that celebrates creativity and connection. Click here for tickets! https://www.theartwell.org/artshow

We visited ArtWell classrooms throughout April (National Poetry Month) to see our programs in action! Swipe through to catch Teaching Artist Mugo Muna bringing the energy to Science Leadership Academny Middle School in Philly as part of our Art of Growing Leaders program. Led by Mugo and fellow ArtWell Teaching Artist, Marcy Morris, students kicked things off with team Pictionary, then dove into collage-making inspired by the legendary Romare Bearden. The results? Bold, brilliant, and full of stories only these young artists could tell. There’s something powerful about watching ideas come alive piece by piece.

If you’re moved by youth art, join us on May 31st at the Galleries at Moore for our annual Poetry & Art Show. Grab your tickets now and bring a friend. Get tickets: https://www.theartwell.org/artshow

There's still time to be a part of ArtWell Giving Day! When you donate today, your gift supports enrichment that bolsters school engagement, enhances critical thinking, and nurtures empathy, creating a path to a more vibrant City of Philadelphia. But don't take our word for it. Swipe to see what our students have to say about ArtWell!

Check out this link to give: https://www.theartwell.org/givingday

Today is the day! ArtWell Giving Day makes creative freedom and artistic joy possible in classrooms across Philly. Back for a fourth year, Giving Day is a community-wide fundraising effort supporting our youth arts programs, including the annual Poetry and Art Show—a free, public exhibit celebrating the voices and creativity of our K-12 students. We invite you to join us today by making a gift of any amount or helping spread the word! Every dollar raised helps create supportive spaces for Philadelphia youth to engage in artmaking as a pathway for self-expression and wellness.

Donate today: https://www.theartwell.org/givingday