Is Chestnut Hill a hot place for the arts?

If there’s one thing worth knowing about Chestnut Hill, Steve Berg says it’s that the area is a “hotbed of artists teeming with talent.”

Berg is in a good position to know as co-owner of the Nichols Berg Gallery at 8611 Germantown Ave. Berg and his partner, Scott Nichols, opened the gallery two years ago after moving to the area from Seattle.

Berg said he and Nichols originally planned to use the space as a studio where they would offer classes and only occasionally hold exhibitions. As they became involved in the local arts community and expanded their space, Berg said the gallery’s reputation and repertoire of art shows “grew and grew.”

Given Chestnut Hill’s size and distance from Center City, Berg said the neighborhood has become one of Philadelphia’s “best kept secrets” for art. He said the gallery and its increasing recognition allow residents and visitors alike to experience art they may not otherwise see.

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“There’s a really interesting and thriving art scene here,” he said. “If people would come here, they would see really innovative art.”

One chance for the public to see Chestnut Hill’s arts scene will be at this year’s annual Fall for the Arts Festival in October.

Becky Kerner and Kris Kitts are reporters with Philadelphia Neighborhoods/Temple Multimedia Urban Reporting Lab, a content partner of NewsWorks

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