Wednesday, July 22, 2009

why apogee?

apogee means “the highest point in the development of something”

Apogee@brandywine supports creative initiatives in visual fine arts, media and design arts for the region’s emerging professionals. Apogee is a new programming initiative of the Brandywine Workshop that will serve as a content creation and presentation resource. Programs will be housed in and around the restored nationally historic firehouse building at 730-732 S. Broad Street, Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia. Programs will take the form of entrepreneurial and educational efforts in a cross-disciplinary, multicultural and multi-generational setting.

The concept for an arts incubator space at the Firehouse building at Brandywine Workshop came out of informal conversations (usually over coffee) between members of the fine arts and media arts community in Philadelphia. The consensus was there are collaborative spaces for visual artists, dance artists, music artists, but not for design and media artists. Media artists and filmmakers were drawn to the idea of creating such a space. The space could attract caterers, costume and set designers, camera and lighting technicians, designers, sound artists, writers, performers, etc. Why not create such a multidisciplinary arts space at Brandywine Workshop?

There are few places in Philadelphia (none centrally located) where young and established professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds can engage in lively discussions, share ideas and strategically plan solutions to concerns. The nationally historic firehouse building, through programs of Apogee@brandywine will become such a place.

The plan for Apogee@brandywine is to have a cafe/restaurant venue on the ground floor, a flexible gallery/studio/screening space on the second floor, and office space on the third and fourth floors.
  • Time Share Office Space/Infrastructure
  • Editing Facilities
  • Screening Room
  • Gallery
  • Cafe Space for Face to Face Interaction
  • Fashion Showcases/Performances
  • Promotional Venue
  • Workshops in Business Planning
  • Seminars in Marketing & Promotions
We will host a number of activities as we prepare for our formal opening/launch in January 2010. Watch this space for more information.

1 comment:

  1. Nadine: This is a fascinating development for the Greater Philadelphia area. Philadelphia has a rich history of national leadership in the printmaking, book, and design arts. It is entirely appropriate that such an important initiative be housed at Brandywine Workshop. I applaud your leadership and I will look to support further developments over the coming weeks and months.

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