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.
Philadelphia Scenic Works (PSW) endeavors to establish a robust, equitable, sustainable, reliable, and affordable scenic fabrication economy for the arts organizations within our region. Equipped with a fully functional workshop and a skilled staff ready to execute projects for arts organizations as required, PSW offers the advantages of having one's own scene shop without the year-round costs.
Without PSW, arts organizations face significant challenges in fulfilling their scenic requirements. Commercial shops are prohibitively expensive, especially for smaller organizations, and maintaining an in-house scene shop, akin to larger companies, is also financially burdensome for most entities. Historically, companies resorted to hiring freelance artists to address their scenic needs. However, the freelance economy has long been known for its instability. Even before the pandemic, freelance technicians typically remained in the industry for only a few years. Consequently, arts organizations were compelled to seek new talent every few years, leading to inconsistent quality and a lack of continuity in understanding their unique spaces and practices.
The pandemic exacerbated this issue, causing many freelancers to transition to other industries or more stable employment opportunities. The current economic climate is not particularly inviting for new freelancers. Therefore, PSW is investing in the workforce by upholding fair labor standards, providing competitive wages, and implementing training and pipeline development programs. PSW's is not only expanding the pool of potential employees but also to enhancing the overall proficiency and appreciation of the scenic arts.
Furthermore, PSW is fostering a more diverse talent pool, which in a city that is very racially and economically diverse, has been historically middle class and white. Until now, access to scenic arts careers has primarily been limited to those who can afford a four-year degree and endure minimal wages while working their way up the industry hierarchy. By streamlining the path for employees, we can bypass these obstacles, and thus open doors to a broader spectrum of candidates. The result is a more robust and diverse workforce for the greater arts economy.
Additionally, by maintaining a fully functional workshop and storage space, PSW reduces material waste by storing, reusing, and repurposing scenery. PSW also harnesses the efficiencies of scale, for example, by purchasing lumber in bulk. Finally, PSW serves as a connector amongst organizations, encouraging a facilitating a robust sharing economy.
In 2016, the closure of one of the region’s few affordable scene shops sparked concern in its most loyal theater clients, who relied on the shop for services integral to their artmaking. In response, leaders from over a dozen organizations such as InterAct Theatre, Theatre Horizon, and Act II Playhouse, rallied together to reimagine this invaluable resource as a non-profit community shop. They transformed an existing, but almost defunct, art support non-profit into Philadelphia Scenic Works, and opened a new space in 2017.
Since its inception, Philadelphia Scenic Works has been a beacon of support for organizations across the region, including theater and dance companies, as well as cultural institutions like Mural Arts, The Philadelphia Horticulture Society, and The Fairmount Park Conservatory.
However, the challenges of sustaining such endeavors quickly became apparent: the labor market proved volatile and unsustainable. With limited opportunities for full-time employment and a fair amount of expected expertise, the workforce remained small, fairly homogeneous, and experienced high turnover rates. This resulted in inconsistent quality, a constant need for recruitment and training, minimal emotional investment, and a narrow margin for error. In response, PSW developed a comprehensive Workforce Development program that is working to address these systemic issues and fulfill its mission.
Through its steadfast dedication to fostering artistic endeavors, PSW has become a cornerstone of the regional arts landscape, empowering countless creative ventures and enriching the cultural fabric of our community.
Your generous donation will enable us to meet fund our mission!