Photo · Eroll Photography
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The open floor
Be seen on the floor.
The full bay, wall to wall, on a Friday night.
C.I.T.Y. Trust · Activations
We activate places across the city.
C.I.T.Y. Trust is a mobile activation: a fine arts and fashion gallery that moves across the city and beyond, and people get transformed while being activated. We are the connective tissue, and Trust OS is the glue. We go to places that are ready for new life, bring partners, artists and neighbors in, and leave behind a path to a credential, a career and a business. Beautification and adaptive reuse, block by block.
- 250+
- guests in under 10 days
- 7
- Philadelphia visual artists
- 1
- piece each, and the story behind it
How an activation works
Four moves, every time.
- 01
Find the place
A storefront, a hall, a lot or a block that is ready for new life, with the partner who cares for it.
- 02
Bring the partners
Artists, credentialed training partners, sponsors and the organizations already doing the work.
- 03
Bring the people
Neighbors, members and volunteers who set it up, show up and carry it forward.
- 04
Leave a spine behind
Trust OS keeps the record, so every person who walks in has a next step: a pathway, a credential, a next activation.
Activation 01 · October 9, 2026
The Preview at The 1910.
250+ guests in under 10 days. Seven Philadelphia visual artists. One piece each, and the story behind it. One night proved the method: a place ready for new life, artists with a story, partners in the room and a community that showed up.
Made possible with our partner YD Home, who provided the space.
See the night
Our first activation · The Preview
Every corner became a scene.
No mockups here. This is The Preview on October 9, 2026, in a space made possible by our partner YD Home: the booths lit and the floor full, photographed by Eroll Photography.
Photo · Eroll Photography
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The capsule row
Get featured in the row.
Lit booths along the bay, one featured piece in each.
Photo · Eroll Photography
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Inside a booth
Your work. Your booth.
Each booth is styled around one artist and one piece.
Photo · Eroll Photography
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The lounge
Sit down. Stay a while.
Room to sit down, talk and stay a while.
Photo · Eroll Photography
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The kitchen table
Pull up to the kitchen table.
Chef service along the back wall.
Photo · Eroll Photography
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Talks and stories
Tell the story behind the work.
Artists and hosts telling the story behind the work.
Photo · Eroll Photography
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The photo wall
Step up to the wall.
The step-and-repeat at the front of the room.
Inside the room
Get in. Get connected. Get empowered.
Photos by Eroll Photography · The Preview at The 1910
Why we started in Point Breeze
We started where we were needed. We go where the city needs us next.
South Philly is the heart and soul of the city, so Point Breeze is where we turned the lights on first. The method travels: every neighborhood has places ready for new life and people who are already gold. We build it once and share the blueprint, so the next neighborhood doesn't start from zero.
Read Before UsGet involved
Volunteer at an activation
Set up, greet, document, mentor or keep a table. Every activation runs on people who show up. Tell us what you bring and when you're free.
Sign up to volunteerHave a place you want activated?
A storefront, a hall, a lot, a school or a block. Tell us where it is, and we bring the partners, the artists and the people.
Activate my placeFollow us as members
The people who show up first decide what the city becomes.
First to know
Members hear where the next activation lands before it goes public.
Shape what comes next
Members help decide which places we activate and what happens there.
Bring your people
Members bring friends to member nights, and every activation grows the network.
In their words
From the room.
5.0 from 7 reviews
“The vibes were immaculate! Folks were interesting, open, connected, and fun. I can't wait for the next event!”
“Everything those was some very beautiful pieces!”
“The night was beautiful! The space the people and atmosphere were incredible! The artwork was incredible! This was the first time I attended an event with this creator and I hope it won’t be the last! I look forward to invitations in the future!”
“We had a WONDERFUL time. Met some talented artists, ate some DELICIOUS food and sip some AWESOME Le Portier Shay Cognac Sponsored by Shannon Sharpe himself. A time was definitely had. Thank you for having us.”
“Beautiful! Everything was fresh and new for me as an experience in new spaces.”
“The atmosphere was amazing ! Food was great and the art was out of this world. It’s beautiful to see a space created for and by creatives. Will definitely be visiting again !”
“Such a dope night. Everything was 10/10. A sweet, vibey communal space. And the Mac n cheese and drinks 👌👌👌”
Community partners
Built by neighbors.
Alter & Build Collective · Community build partners
Erica Goodwin and Mitch Parise, with families rooted on Alter Street for about 40 years, helped build the set for The Preview at The 1910 and built the wall.
Thank you for volunteering your craft and sowing seeds into the C.I.T.Y. Trust legacy.
Meet the buildersJoin us · November 20 and 21, 2026
The ACBC 18th Winter Award Dinner and Business Roundtable.
Join us at the African and Caribbean Business Council's 18th Winter Award Dinner and Business Roundtable. Day events are free and open to all, and C.I.T.Y. Trust presents. Come meet the people building Philadelphia, and see where our next activations are headed.
C.I.T.Y. Trust · Activating the city
Join the connective tissue.
A city holds together at the places where people meet. C.I.T.Y. Trust is the connective tissue between artists, neighbors, partners and the city. We activate places that are ready for new life through adaptive reuse, and Trust OS is the glue that keeps every person, partner and place connected from one activation to the next.
Volunteer at the next activation. Bring us a place that is ready for new life. Follow us as we go block by block, with the people moving Philadelphia forward.
If you are one of these, this is the place for you
- Community members
- Community partners
- Activators
- Change agents
Be a part of the connective tissue.