A Philly “Institution”: Space 1026 Collaborative Art Space

When we started doing research for our recent trip to Philadelphia, one place was repeatedly suggested by friends and colleagues: Space 1026. So last week, we found our way to the artspace/gallery/workshop on Arch and 11th and were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to talk to one of its resident artists - Bill McRight. He spoke with us about the space, its history, and how collaborative workspaces help foster a feeling of community among the artists spread throughout the city.

The space occupies two floors and includes artists’ studios, a gallery space, and ample screenprinting equipment (as well as other creative tools) used by several of the artists. The cooperative has been in existence for seven years and continues to grow, new artists continuously entering (and exiting) the fold, some coming in frequently to work on projects, others only stopping by once in a while for shows or socializing.

Currently there are more than 40 artists who consider themselves members of Space 1026, though several of them are not actually in the city, located around the world showcasing their works. What has resulted in Space 1026 is a sort of homebase for Philadelphia artists to exchange ideas, share resources, and exhibit their work. Money earned from works go back to the artists and also back into the gallery for cleaning up the space, funding future shows, and making other improvements to the collaborative. According to their website, “Space 1026 is a community - a creative community - not an institution.” But Space 1026 and its ethos has become so well-known in the international art community, it is difficult not to view it as one of the city’s modern institutions.