Village of Industry & Art to Solidify Support for Philadelphia Artists Through 45 Units of Permanent Affordable Artist Housing

August 12, 2026 (Philadelphia, PA) — Philadelphia-based design and development firm Scout today announced a $2.5 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to fund the creation of 45 permanent affordable artist housing and residency units at the Village of Industry & Art (VIA), a major adaptive reuse project on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. ​ A portion of the grant will also be dedicated to arts programming onsite, supporting the vision of VIA as a vibrant space for artists to live, work, and share with the public.

Artist housing was always central to the vision for the Village of Industry & Art (VIA), an adaptive reuse of the former University of the Arts buildings. The project reimagines these historic arts- buildings as a living, working neighborhood—where affordable homes for artists are permanently integrated alongside studios, institutions, and public life. That intention is now a lasting commitment, written into the building’s deed, to ensure that affordable, artist-centered residences at the Village of Industry & Art are a permanent part of Center City Philadelphia’s cultural and residential landscape.

“Artists are essential to Philadelphia’s identity, economy and future,” said Kristina Newman-Scott, Knight Foundation’s Vice President of Arts. “This project demonstrates what becomes possible when we design cities with artists in mind, creating affordable places for artists to live and work is an investment in Philadelphia’s long-term vitality.”

The housing component will include 45 units of affordable artist housing at the Village of Industry & Art in the Furness building (designed by acclaimed Philadelphia architect Frank Furness) that anchors the 15th Street side of the project. ​ Plans include 35 long-term rental units for working artists earning 60–80% of Area Median Income and 10 furnished short-term residences for visiting artists and artist residencies. The grant will support both the capital improvements to make these spaces viable for long-term occupancy, and the infrastructure to establish and commit to these units as affordable housing.

“Knight Foundation’s support makes artist housing at the Village of Industry & Art permanent and real,” continued Lindsey Scannapieco, Managing Partner at Scout. “This isn’t a temporary use, this is a permanent investment in desperately needed civic infrastructure for the cultural and artistic workers of Philadelphia. Continuing on the legacy of many artists in this space before us, we hope to continue to support this as a fertile ground for community, collaboration, and sharing that happens when artists share space.”

The project marks a first for Philadelphia in the heart of Center City - and the largest allocation of artist affordable housing ever developed in the city.

“This project is a story of resilience for Philadelphia’s $3.4 billion creative economy,” said John Churchill, Knight Foundation’s Philadelphia Director. "Bringing working artists back to Broad Street, home to Eagles celebrations and standing ovations at the Wilma and the Kimmel, helps keep the city’s cultural pulse alive. We’re grateful to the team at Scout for championing this opportunity, and to the arts organizations and artists who will soon bring the space to life.”

Grant funding from Knight will also support programming that activates the affordable artist housing and workspace as a vibrant community hub. Through artist-led programs and partnerships with academic and cultural institutions, artists will access paid opportunities for teaching, commissioning, and public presentation that contribute to measurable economic gains, including increased income and expanded professional networks. Public-facing programming—such as open studios, workshops, exhibitions, and free or low-cost events—will expand access to arts and culture while strengthening artists’ connection to local audiences.

The Village of Industry & Art aspires to be ​ a new model for preserving and supporting working artists on this cultural corridor in the center of our city echoing needs heard in Councilmember Rue Landau’s survey of artists across Philadelphia and the evolving Cultural Masterplan. The vision at the Village of Industry & Art is to support and enable a community where art and life are inseparable.

About the Village of Industry & Art

The Village of Industry & Art ​ is a new creative campus rising on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts—an evolving ecosystem for artists, makers, and mission-driven organizations at the intersection of culture, craft, and civic life. Developed by Scout, the project spans over 110,000 square feet across 1.9 acres, reactivating two iconic buildings—formerly Hamilton and Furness Halls of the University of the Arts—through an adaptive reuse approach that prioritizes affordability, minimal intervention, and community-first design.

The Village of Industry & Art is taking shape through early activations and collaborative occupancy, inviting tenants to help shape the campus from within. The Village of Industry & Art’s tenants include BlackStar Projects, Monument Lab, DesignPhiladelphia, and the Stained Glass Project, alongside 45+ local artists, makers, and small-scale retailers. Public-facing studios, workshops, and storefronts will activate the ground floor, fostering interaction between artists and the broader public.

Inspired by Scout’s Bok Building model, the Village of Industry & Art is not just a redevelopment—it is a living village for cultural production, where residential life, creativity, and civic infrastructure coexist.

About Scout

Scout is a Philadelphia-based design and development firm nationally recognized for transforming underutilized buildings into vibrant, community-centered hubs. Guided by a philosophy of minimal intervention, Scout preserves architectural character while unlocking new creative and economic possibilities through adaptive reuse.

Unlike traditional developers, Scout remains a long-term steward of its projects, actively managing properties to cultivate ecosystems of artists, entrepreneurs, and community partners. Its work balances preservation with progress, demonstrating how design-led development can support affordability, equity, and cultural vitality. Scout’s approach is exemplified by the Bok Building in South Philadelphia and continues with the Village of Industry & Art on the Avenue of the Arts.

About Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation is a ​ social investor that supports a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers.

For more information, please contact:

Scout – ​ Sara Griffin; ​ sara@griffinprny.com; ​ +1-917-656-6348

Knight Foundation - Atena Sherry; sherry@kf.org