Building community through art

Most 95-year-olds would have a hard time rocking throughout the night. 

But when it comes to the Da Vinci Art Alliance and the vital fundraisers that keep it afloat, the Bella Vista nonprofit is always up to the challenge.

Located at 704 Catharine St., Da Vinci hosted its inaugural live-streamed 24-hour “DVAA-thon” fundraiser, which supports the hub’s vital programs and aging building.

The art alliance has called the building home since 1966, but the organization’s roots go back to 1931 when it was held as pop-ups in residential locations and picnics.

“It’s our 95th year this year so we’ve been planning big birthday celebrations, but it’s also 2026 and a lot of nonprofits are closing or have lost funding, so it’s both celebrating what we’ve done and what we do to continue fundraising to keep it going,” said Sam Connors, executive director of the Da Vinci Art Alliance. “The 24 hour fundraiser is a programmatic example of as many things we can package in 24 hours to show what we can do in a year because Da Vinci does over 100 free programs in a year.”

That includes monthly exhibitions, the DVAA Fellowship & Residency program, artist-led workshops, professional development workshops, K-12 educational workshops and neighborhood events. 

Not only does the Da Vinci Art Alliance hope to continue its mission. It aims to help its surrounding community. 

“It’s small but mighty,” said Eugene Desyatnik, president of the Bella Vista Neighbors Association. “It’s a really important staple. Beyond the fact that there are community events going on here, Da Vinci is present at all of our meetings. Sam has even moderated one of our panels with politicians. They are very much a part of the community.”

Desyatnik was one of the many visitors who supported the 24-hour fundraiser that began at 6 p.m. on July 11. There was live music performed by several different local acts, a barbecue, pool party, movie marathon, DJ and skill building and art workshops. In other words, there was plenty to do at a place that does so much with so little government help.

“Our mission is using art to build collective resilience,” Connors said. “The city doesn’t fund us so it’s all about skill building and mutual aid and helping each other. DA Vinci is the largest artist collective in Philadelphia. Usually art collectives have around 10 members. We have about 300. We have a staff and we are a 501 that basically puts all the puzzle pieces together but our bosses are the members. They facilitate everything through committee work.”

Member artwork was on display on the lower level that gave a nod to the country’s 250th birthday. It was called “Collective Renderings of We the People.”

“It’s a selection of member artists talking about their vision of what America is, what it was and what it could be,” Connors said. 

The DVAA-thon was preceded by severe storms that rolled through South Philly about few hours before the start time. It undoubtedly preempted some potential guests who were forced to clean up and make repairs. 

“Ultimately, I would consider it successful even though we didn’t reach our goal financially,” DVAA Marketing Coordinator Lou Balikos said. “We’re always learning, and taking input and feedback from our community. Just being able to see old faces and meet new ones (at the event) was incredibly rewarding.”

Donations to support DVAA and its mission can be made at www.davinciartalliance.org. Funding will almost certainly be paid forward by DVAA’s free programs.

“It’s more important now than ever to support local initiatives that are trying to reinvigorate the art space and make art programming and education accessible that’s always what we aim to do,” Balikos explained. “That’s why we have these fundraisers in general — so that we can continue to support our mission and not put financial barriers on people being able to build community and develop their art practice in like-minded spaces.”

It goes well beyond the narrow confines of the Da Vinci building in Bella Vista.

“Da Vinci also has a strong partnership with improving the vibrancy of South Street,” Desyatnik said. “There’s lots of stuff here that isn’t just looking around art on walls. I’m not a visual artist but I appreciate it. But there’s also so much more that goes on here.”