PHILADELPHIA SCENIC WORKS

OVERVIEW

We are the nation's only independent, non-profit (501c3) scene shop. We work with arts organizations all over the Greater Philadelphia area to build projects that advance their missions. At the same time, we are investing in building a healthy, sustainable workforce, and innovative resource sharing.

MISSION 

The mission of Philadelphia Scenic Works (PSW) is to strengthen the arts ecosystem in Philadelphia by (A) providing high-quality,reliable scenic solutions for arts organizations, (B) investing in the artist workforce through equitable practices and educational offerings, and (C) reducing financial and material waste with innovative intercompany resource-sharing initiatives.

Philadelphia Scenic Works (PSW) is a fully outfitted theatrical scene shop, paint space and props shop that provides high-quality, affordable scenic and props fabrication, storage, and build space. PSW serves the Philadelphia region’s robust community of non-profit theatre companies and other cultural and educational organizations by maintaining the highest artistic standards, while embracing a more sustainable future through shared pools of recycled, reused, and repurposed stock and resources.

VISION

Philadelphia Scenic Works (PSW) endeavors to establish a robust, equitable, sustainable, reliable, and affordable scenic fabrication economy for the arts organizations within our region.

Philadelphia Scenic Works (PSW) provides a necessary service for local arts organizations, by providing them with high-quality and dependable production services. By combining the fabrication work of many small organizations and schools under one roof, PSW can provide benefits typically only accessible to much larger organizations. These benefits include:

• a reliable workforce who have decades of experience and institutional knowledge of the venues and partner organizations

• taking advantages of economies of scale - like bulk purchasing and enough work to employ specialists who can do difficult work quickly

• a large, well-equipped workshape

• a stock of reusable set pieces and hardware

• resource sharing

On average, thanks to our generous supporters, PSW can discount mission-based work (support of arts organizations) by 40-60%. 

This model also provides a stable work environment for independent artists and technicians, and through an investment in our labor pool, education, and on-the-job work programs, we’re creating a healthier and more diverse pool of skilled technicians and artists, which in turn serves to strengthen the arts industry writ large.