Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts Launches Fundraising Campaign to Restore C. 1900 Artist Community and Build a Global Artist Colony

A New Dawn Emerges in New Hope as a Cultural Hub at the Birthplace of Pennsylvania Impressionism

Press Contact:
Amy Rosi 􏰆 AROS COMMUNICATIONS
arosi@aroscommunications.com
917.940.9763

The Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts, Inc. has announced its plans to save, restore and reactivate the artist community of Phillips Mill located in New Hope, PA. Renowned as the birthplace of Pennsylvania Impressionism and the New Hope School of Art, the community of artists which founders William Lathrop, Edward Redfield and Daniel Garber began here at the dawn of the 20th century inspired the formation of the Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts (PMFA) in 2018 as a non-profit dedicated to repurposing the historic buildings and grounds into the New Hope Colony.

Above: The Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts held a reception on October 4 to celebrate the launch of its New Hope Colony and the Artists Residency. On a perfect autumn Sunday, guests explored the historic English Village buildings and grounds on self-guided “discovery” tours and met in the garden adjacent to the Morgan Colt Painting Studio for champagne toasts. Plans to restore, preserve and reactivate the building and grounds of the New Hope Colony were shared, as well as the announcement of the “First Ten” all-women Artists Residency Spring 2021. Mirroring the Pennsylvania Impressionists who founded the New Hope Colony in the 1920s, local artists set up their easels and painted en plein air to the delight of the guests. Photos Contributed Include: Valerie and Jim McKinney, Eleanor Miller, Brett Webber, Joan Moloney, Kurt Miller, Holly Victor, Summer Yates, Dayle Haddon, Jim and Grace Betts, Annsi Stephano

Release Continued:

The pastoral magic of this Gothic English Village at Phillips Mill along the Delaware Canal on the banks of the Delaware River has captivated and lured artists and lovers of the arts and nature for close to 100 years seeking a respite from city life and the freedom to create. It is a new dawn again in New Hope, and this time the intent is to attract the leading and emerging artists at work today, and to provide a place for the public to interact and engage.

PMFA seeks to create an accessible, international hub for artists to work, study, and collaborate while offering public programming and member-based activities. Through the acquisition, restoration and adaptive reuse of historic structures and landscape, the Foundation also plans to reinstate the acclaimed New Hope Artist Colony with live/work studios, exhibition, and presentation spaces for public and member-based engagements. PMFA aims to foster professional and creative development for artists of all disciplines including educational programs for children and emerging talent.

PMFA has raised over $425,000 as the first part of its acquisition and preservation initiative. This initial funding propelled the purchase to acquire Morgan Colt􏰀s Norman French style Kennel and Forge buildings fronting on the Delaware Canal for preservation and adaptive reuse. In addition, PMFA offices are now established at Foundation House, one of the former dormitories of the New Hope School for Girls which sits alongside Morgan Colt􏰀s painting studio and workshops. With these initial acquisitions, PMFA is continuing on its path to protect and preserve the entirety of the Phillips Mill Community.

The financial goal is to raise $35 million to restore the properties and build the PMFA New Hope Colony. Plans to launch the PMFA Membership Program, Fall 2020 programming, a virtual 􏰁Artists Residency􏰂 and exhibition inspired by the Pennsylvania Impressionists are underway. A new website presents the history and future vision of PMFA. To become a member, donor or for more information, visit www.phillipsmillfoundation.org

The Phillips Mill Foundation for the Arts, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Press Contact:
Amy Rosi 􏰆 AROS COMMUNICATIONS
arosi@aroscommunications.com
917.940.9763