Fleisher Art Memorial is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free or low-cost arts education to Philadelphians of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience. Established as the Graphic Sketch Club in 1898 by Philadelphian Samuel Fleisher, the institution grew steadily. In 1922, Fleisher purchased the Church of the Evangelists (constructed 1886-86) on Catharine Street, establishing the core of the Fleisher Art Memorial's modern campus. Within the campus of Fleisher Art Memorial, the church-today called the Sanctuary-serves as an art gallery, gathering place, and quiet refuge. These multiple values and uses give the Sanctuary a significant place within the history and current functioning of the organization.
While several studies have addressed campus-wide space allocation and organizational structures, no comprehensive study has been completed that combines a study of the interior historic fabric with stakeholder uses of the Sanctuary. The studio team sought to address these gaps and connect the Sanctuary with Fleisher Art Memorial's goals for institutional growth. The team focused on preservation issues relating to the interior of the space, such as conservation of the wall paintings, and remedying the current underutilization of the Sanctuary through possible alterations to building fabric and usage. It also examined what role the Sanctuary plays within the context of the campus.
