Penn Live Arts
Penn Live Arts advances a thriving creative culture through artist residencies, commissions and the creation of new work, dynamic masterclasses with visiting artists, and inclusive community programs.
Penn Live Arts is the University’s artistic crossroads, bringing renowned and emerging performing artists and programs that offer an inspiring impact to the campus community, and serving as a champion of arts education, partnerships, and collaborations at Penn and in Philadelphia.
As the University’s home for the performing arts, we are initiating ambitious projects that will drive a further commitment to presenting diverse artists and narratives from across the globe, deepen the integration of performing arts at Penn with curricular and co- curricular programming, and reveal a new capital plan to renovate and expand the Annenberg Center building to better support performing arts programming at the University.
Penn Live Arts is leading the artistic celebration of our shared stories into the future with the first ever major renovation and expansion of the Annenberg Center. Learn more.
Did You Know?
The Annenberg Center houses the Zellerbach, Prince, and Montgomery Theatres, offices for staff, the Sachs Program, and the Theatre Arts Department.
Highlighted Priorities
- Creation: Foster the development of new work through partnerships, commissions, premieres, and debuts, presenting emerging and established artists in a robust roster of compelling performances and public programs.
- Integration: Embed the performing arts into the University life experience through curricular and co-curricular collaborations, including artist residencies, master classes, internships, and career support initiatives.
- Inclusion: Fortify our role as the University’s bridge to the community by strengthening our outreach and engagement programs to provide access to the professional performing arts for all.
- Transformation – Employ the campus as our canvas, leading with a major capital plan for renovation and expansion. Unify Penn’s performing arts venues to better serve students, artists, and patrons in collaborative creation and appreciation.
“Art and community overlap at Penn Live Arts. Support for the performing arts enriches campus life through transformative artistic experiences and creates space that cultivates empathy and shared understanding.”
- Christopher Gruits
Executive & Artistic Director
