Jaleel Shaw’s Band performed at the 11th Annual Lancaster Ave Jazz & Arts Festival in July 2017. (Photo by Kevin Smith)

Come July, the Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Festival, a great summer tradition in the Powelton neighborhood, will return to Saunders Park. The National Endowment for the Arts has recently announced that it will support this year’s festival with a Challenge America grant of $10,000.

The NEA has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of its first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. The Challenge America category features NEA support for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations – those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability, according to the announcement. 

People’s Emergency Center’s Community Development Corporation, one of the main organizers of this event, will receive the grant.

The festival is a free, family-friendly event that showcases the best of Philadelphia: eight hours of live music performances, a diverse gathering of people, a view of the city and a chance to enjoy a neighborhood that is rich in arts and culture.

Artisans and vendors along with a variety of specialty food trucks will be on site. Activities include a moon bounce, face painting, community resources and digital pop-up computer lab.

“Last year’s festival attracted 5,000 neighbors, families, and jazz enthusiasts for a celebration of community strengths, relationships, and music,” says PEC President Kathy Desmond.

The goals of the festival include increasing the profile of arts and culture institutions in West Philadelphia, promoting music education for children, increasing awareness of the Lancaster Avenue commercial corridor, stimulating the local economy, energizing the community, and bringing together partners.

Stay tuned for more announcements regarding the 12th Annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival, which will be held on Saturday, July 21st. Please also visit www.lancasteravejazzfest.com and facebook.com/lancasteravejazzfest for more information and updates.