2014 has flown by and the holiday season is once again upon us. Each year, we look forward to the promise of holiday cheer, the opportunity to give to family and friends and, of course, holiday shopping! In the spirit of giving and sharing, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia has joined #GivingTuesday – a truly unique effort which harnesses the collective powers of charities, families, business and individuals to inspire people to contribute and give back to their communities.

On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, #GivingTuesday will reach across the nation in order to celebrate and encourage the charitable activities that support nonprofits, who work tirelessly throughout the year to build and enrich their communities. This year, the Athenaeum is thrilled and honored to be one of 5,000 organizations who are participating in #GivingTuesday.

Your gift – no matter how large or small -- enables us to continue to provide free entrance to visitors, build and maintain our diverse collections, create programming that excites and engages visitors of all ages and preserve our National Historic Landmark building.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of the Athenaeum, we thank you for your support and wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Reception: 5:30-6:15pm
Award Presentation: 6:15-6:45
Exhibition Open: 6:45-8:00pm

RSVP to events@PhilaAthenaeum.org or 215-925-2688

Free admission, but space is limited.  RSVP Early.

The final exhibition of the Athenaeum's Bicentennial year will open on Friday, Dec. 5th following the announcement of the winners of the Looking Forward, Re-Imagining the Athenaeum of Philadelphia architectural competition.  This conceptual competition solicited designs for an Athenaeum building of the year 2050-one that would occupy our Washington Square site after our current structure was (hypothetically) dismantled, moved and rebuilt elsewhere.  88 entrants have submitted, the jurors have made their decision, and now it's time to see which designs for an Athenaeum of the future will be awarded prizes.

The event will be webcast LIVE beginning at approximately 6:10PM on Friday December 5th.  (An Athenaeum first!)

Visit the Looking Forward website on the night of the event for the link to the live stream.  www.philaathenaeum.org/lookingforward/

Roger W. Moss Symposium-Philadelphia Architecture: Present & Future

Registration is open for the annual Roger W. Moss Symposium.  This year's topic is Philadelphia Architecture: Present and Future.  

Speakers: Inga Saffron, Daniela Holt Voith & Cameron J. Mactavish, Scott Kelly, James S. Camp and Peter L. Gluck.

The symposium now carries 5.25 credits toward AIA/CES (HSW) LUs.

Free admission for students.

When: Saturday, December 6, 9:00AM

Click here for the full program and registration

Athenaeum shareholder Terri Johnson was featured earlier this year as a Rothman Institute Ambassador.  Terri, who underwent total ankle replacement at Rothman, was interviewed and filmed here in April and is shown displaying her new-found mobility both inside and outside the beautiful  Athenaeum building.  A portion of the film is currently running as a television advertisement for Rothman.  To see the full three-minute clip click here. 

Terri is a long-time supporter of the Athenaeum, and her firm, Bedford Cost Segregation, is a sponsor of the Looking Forward Architectural Competition.

The Philadelphia Center for the Book held a juried exhibition at The Art Department gallery in Fishtown in October, to showcase works by members of the PCB.  The Athenaeum's Conservation Specialist, Denise Fox entered on of her handmade books, titled "Hat Ladies."  It was accepted into the show, and the Free Library of Philadelphia purchased it for their collection of handmade books.  It is a tunnel book, which she learned to make at one of the Athenaeum's book arts workshops.

This Month In 1814:  A Look Back At The Athenaeum's Founding Year