PlayPhilly

Engaging the populous through play.

We truly are an interesting species. Creative. Thought provoking. Whimsical. As we grow into ourselves, we often take the path of least resistance, lose our curiosity, or sense of engagement. The through behind PlayPhilly, was to reactivate the senses. To give city dweller living amongst the cold plains of concrete a sense of wonder. To give them a moment of irreverence and playfulness without sacrificing their own time or money.

PlayPhilly used the city as a game board. It targeted groups of individuals, whether thats young professionals, old professionals, or inner city kids, the goal was to learn by playing. We held social gatherings, interactive spacemaking installations, and activated otherwise underwhelming areas of the city with swings, ribbons and a child-like sensibility.

I do wish, sometimes, that I had the strength to make PlayPhilly the creative arts organization it deserved to be, was supposed to be. To take a risk, to find the grant money, to hire the artists…all those things. But downtown Philly is no longer the muted wasteland of yesteryear. It’s now flush with ice rinks, pop-up markets and audience engagement stages. I’m not saying PlayPhilly was responsible for this far from ti actually, but the seeds were sewn, and something beautiful has grown over the past decade.

Launched: 2011
Designers: Kristin Freese, Giacomo Ciminello