Booking the Rotunda - Rotunda 26 Staging

About The Rotunda

The Rotunda is multi-purpose arts and culture venue providing access to programming for multiple communities and presenting over 300 events annually, including live music, spoken word, theater, panels, film, exhibits, dance, education, and various experimental forms of art and performance.

Our Mission, Vision & Values

The Rotunda unites diverse communities through accessible, transformative arts experiences that inspire social change and celebrate cultural expression in West Philadelphia and beyond. We believe that art is a catalyst for justice, community building, and cultural understanding—accessible to all, regardless of background or economic status.

Justice: We use art as a tool for social change and liberation.
Diversity: We celebrate all forms of artistic expression and cultural identity.
Community: We center local voices and foster collaborative creation.
Sustainability: We are committed to environmental and economic responsibility in all we do

Our Mission, Vision & Values

Land Acknowledgment

We recognize and acknowledge that The Rotunda and related programs stand on the Indigenous territory known as “Lenapehoking,” the traditional homelands of the Lenape, also called Lenni-Lenape or Delaware Indians. These are the people who, during the 1680s, negotiated with William Penn to facilitate the founding of the colony of Pennsylvania. Their descendants today include the Delaware Tribe and Delaware Nation of Oklahoma; the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, Ramapough Lenape, and Powhatan Renape of New Jersey; and the Munsee Delaware of Ontario. These are not only nations of the past, but are indeed living, thriving people today. Learn much more about these and other communities at Native American and Indigenous Studies at Penn.

“The Rotunda is where I found my creative voice and my community. It’s more than a venue—it’s a home for everyone.”
— A Rotunda artist

Community Partnerships

Our work is powered by collaboration.
We are proud to partner with neighborhood organizations, schools, artists, and activists to create programming that reflects and uplifts our community.

Interested in partnering with The Rotunda? Learn more here.

Join Us

Whether you’re an artist, neighbor, student, or supporter, there’s a place for you at The Rotunda.
Explore our Events, Volunteer, or Donate to help us build a more creative, connected, and just Philadelphia.

The Rotunda: Where art meets activism, and everyone belongs.

Our Spaces

The Rotunda features a 100-seat performance space, flexible for music, film, theater, dance, and more.
We offer professional sound and lighting, accessible entrances, and a welcoming environment for all ages and abilities.

The Main Room

The majority of our 300+ annual events take place in our legendary Main Room, where we champion grassroots, neighborhood-based artists, activists, and community leaders. Our stage has hosted world-renowned performers like John Legend, Wiz Khalifa, Matisyahu, and Spoon—a testament to a level of diversity few venues can match. On any given night, you might find an Appalachian folk concert, followed the next by a hip-hop showcase, a gong orchestra, or a student film series.

Capacity

250-350 standing room depending on configuration
100 seated

The Sanctuary

Artists and audiences are completely at home in this soaring architectural treasure, with its 1,500 pound Tiffany chandelier, pristine Walnut pews, and raked pine floor. We present a handful of events in this space every year, usually during citywide festivals such as Philadelphia Live Arts, Philly Fringe, Design Philadelphia, and Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA).

We are not accepting booking inquiries for the Sanctuary at this time.

We are committed to making The Rotunda accessible to everyone:

Wheelchair accessible entrance and restrooms
Assistive listening devices available upon request
All-gender restrooms
Sliding scale and free admission to all events
Multilingual materials for select programs

Learn more about our venue and accessibility here. If you have specific accessibility needs, please contact us in advance so we can best support your visit.

The Rotunda’s Story

Built in 1911 as a house of worship originally for the First Church of Christ Scientist, it was designed by Carrere and Hastings, the New York-based firm who set the tone of the American classicism of the twentieth century. With its low, tile-roofed narthex, circular main hall (AKA the sanctuary), and oversized windows, The building is of unsurpassed simplicity and elegance recalling Early Christian spaces such as Rome’s Santa Sabina. The University of Pennsylvania purchased the building in 1996 as a strategic acquisition tied to a large scale community investment strategy known as the West Philadelphia Initiatives. With its prime location at 40th and Walnut, Penn explored several redevelopment options such as retail use, a radio station, and restaurant. While pursuing redevelopment options, Penn’s real estate officials responded to the ideas put forth in a 1998 Urban Studies seminar led by Dr. Ira Harkavy and Dr. Lee Benson at the University, which called for the formation of The Foundation Community Arts Initiative. By making space available in a portion of the building, the Foundation held their first event in 1999 producing a free, all ages Jazz concert open to the public.

Utilizing the programming and performing talents of both students and other West Philadelphia community members, The Foundation, led by an undergraduate student, Andrew Zitcer, quickly began programming weekly events and monthly series, showcasing world music, Jazz, Rock, Experimental, and more, while consciously striving to unite diverse groups of people through arts and culture experiences. By 2002, The Foundation, primarily fueled by dedicated Penn students with the aid of performers, artists, activists, and event organizers from within the surrounding community, acknowledged the need for a full time Director of The Rotunda. The appointment of a venue Director allowed an increase in the frequency of events while strengthening marketing efforts, outreach, and quality of programming. Nowadays, we use the name The Foundation interchangeably with the venue name of The Rotunda.

Gina Renzi, a local event organizer, artist, and activist, was hired while Andrew Zitcer accepted a position at Penn’s Office of Student Life, programming Perelman Quadrangle and other campus spaces in addition to advising on all facets of The Rotunda and serving as an liaison between The Rotunda and Penn. In January 2004, Andrew went on to become the Cultural Asset Manager at Penn’s Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES). In this position, he oversaw and assisted to cultivate existing and new venues and projects within the FRES arts and culture portfolio. The appointment of a Director allowed an increase in the frequency of events while strengthening marketing efforts, outreach, and quality of programming.

Meet The Staff

The Rotunda is powered by a dedicated blend of University staff and local volunteers who share a passion for fostering experimental art and community dialogue. Together, we work behind the scenes to ensure this space remains a vibrant, inclusive home for world-class performances and grassroots gatherings alike.