Historic Germantown nominated for Councilman David Cohen Award

Historic Germantown, a consortium of 15 cultural and historic sites in Northwest Philadelphia, has been nominated for the Councilman David Cohen Award.

The award, which the Philadelphia Cultural Fund created in honor of the late councilman’s service to the cultural community, recognizes an arts-and-culture organization dedicated to promoting social and economic justice.

“I feel like it was a big boost of confidence that the work we are doing to try to positively impact the community is being recognized not only in the neighborhood of Germantown, but it’s being recognized outside, which is pretty exciting,” said Barbara Hogue, executive director of Historic Germantown.

Hogue said she hopes the nomination is based on collaboration and efforts to work more closely with the community, qualities evident in the the Potter’s Field discussions for the Queen Lane Apartments demolition site.

“It helps us to tell a wider story because each individual site has its own story, but the 15 stories together start to piece together a larger narrative on the history of Germantown,” Hogue said. “It also opens a lot of opportunities to tell contemporary stories.”

Hogue said winning could help others discover Germantown’s cultural treasures.

Other nominees

The other nominees for the award are Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble, Commonwealth Youth Choirs, Philly Community Access Media, B Someday Productions, Amaryllis Theatre Co., Interact Theatre, Al Bustan Seeds of Culture, Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus and Art-Reach.

The winner, after the Philadelphia Cultural Fund’s announcement, which is expected within a few weeks, will receive a plaque and an event hosted in the City Council’s caucus room.

Past winners include Philadelphia Folklore Project, Scribe Video Center, Art Sanctuary, Settlement Music School, Cosa Cosa Art at Large and Wagner Free Institute.