Germantown Arts

Welcome to Germantown Arts! A place to find out what is going on in arts community of Germantown. Read, listen, contribute, and network via this site to broaden your arts palette. Our goal is to serve the Germantown Community, if you wish to have your art or business featured, just ask. Enjoy! 

Germantown Arts presents Singing Nina: a cultural festival and conference. This is a one day, multi-location festival in Germantown focused on the life and music of Nina Simone. Events include:

1-2:30pm - a screening of the documentary, "What Happened, Miss Simone" at the People’s Sanctuary (5507 Germantown Ave.)

2:45-3:45pm - a panel discussion of Nina Simone's life and work, through a cultural and historical context. Panelists include Ursula Rucker, Tony “TNT” Jones, and Randall Grass. Moderated by Sara Lomax-Reese at the People’s Sanctuary (5507 Germantown Ave.)

4-6:30pm - a VIP event with a reception, complimentary food and drink, and a live performance of Nina Simone's music by M’Balia Singley at the Germantown Historical Society. Catering by Milo Restaurant (5501 Germantown Ave.)

4-6:30pm - a garden party at the historic Wyck House, with a performance by DJ Rich Medina of contemporary music that has utilized Nina Simone's music via sampling. Food available from 2 Street Sammies. Drinks available from Young American Hard Cider and Germantown Espresso Bar (6026 Germantown Ave.).

7pm - an evening performance of "Dear Nina: a sonic love letter to Nina Simone" with Drea D’Nur & strings by Rootstock Republic, a 7 piece string ensemble performing original arrangements of Nina Simone's music. The performance will take place at Rittenhouse Filmworks at 219 W. Rittenhouse St.

For tickets to the festival, please click here. General admission includes all events except the VIP event. VIP admission includes all events.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the festival, please click here.

Thank you for your support!

Our sponsors include:

Directions

Our event begins at the People’s Sanctuary (5507 Germantown Ave.) The building is actually on Market Square, set back from Germantown Ave (see map below). Here are directions to the start of our festival:

By car From I-76, take Exit 340A (Lincoln Drive, formerly Exit 32) and follow the signs to Lincoln Drive. At first light, turn right onto Rittenhouse Street. At next light, turn right onto Wissahickon Avenue. At the second light on Wissahickon, turn left onto School House Lane and continue to Germantown Avenue. Turn right, then make an immediate left onto Church Lane. Free parking in the rear of the building. From US 1 North (City Line, or City, Avenue), follow the signs for Lincoln Drive, and continue as above. 

By bus Take SEPTA Route 23 (Germantown Avenue) to School House Lane. We are the brick building across the green on Market Square. See the SEPTA website for all Route 23 schedules and connections. 

By train Take SEPTA's R8 Chestnut Hill West line to Chelten Avenue station. Out of the station, walk east 1/2 block and turn right onto Pulaski Avenue. Go one block up Pulaski, then turn left on School House Lane. Walk three blocks to Germantown Avenue, crossing the latter, and turn right. See the SEPTA website for complete R8 Chestnut Hill West timetables.