The Penn Avenue Arts Initiative's (PAAI) core mission is to revitalize the Penn Avenue Corridor, between Negley and Mathilda avenues, by using the arts to enhance public perception of the district, instill pride in the neighborhood, foster inter and intra community ties, and establish an artist's niche. PAAI has been designed to act as a springboard for attracting and enticing artists to live and work in the neighborhoods along the Penn Avenue Corridor.

The PAAI is part of a larger community development strategy that intertwines neighborhoods, residential, commercial and cultural projects. It is a project of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation (BGC) and Friendship Development Associates (FDA) Inc. It has been a driving force in the development of an innovative, diverse and cultural district in the East End of Pittsburgh.

"The Penn Avenue Arts Initiative provides a plan and a foundation for bringing the communities of Friendship and Garfield together. In addition, it shows how two community organizations (BGC and FDA) using the arts fits with what our neighborhood is all about - diversity."
- Jamita Poston, Garfield resident

The key objectives of the PAAI program include the following:
  • Increase the number of artists who own live and work spaces in the area

  • Support the purchase and renovation of property to make them more accessible to artists

  • Market the area to artists and arts-related activities

  • Empower local youth by having artists engage them in meaningful art projects

The Arts Initiative draws from the strengths of existing arts anchor businesses in the district, including Pittsburgh Glass Center, Dance Alloy, and Garfield Artworks and from the many small art studios that call Penn Avenue home. Penn Avenue is not just a place where artists come to create their art but also offers a variety of festivals and activities throughout the year that attract residents from throughout the City of Pittsburgh and the region at large to participate in the creative energy along Penn Avenue. The vitality of Penn Avenue is not just in the creation that takes place there but in the interaction of individuals of diverse social, racial and economic backgrounds that come together along the avenue. Among the activities that take place along Penn Avenue are Unblurred and the Penn Avenue Community Arts Festival.

Unblurred: First Friday's on Penn is a monthly event that highlights artists, art studios, galleries and arts organizations on and around the Penn Avenue Corridor. The event gives participants the opportunity to meet an eclectic array of art makers within walking distance of each other.

The Penn Avenue Community Arts Festival includes hands-on art activities for kids, live performances and vendors from throughout the city. The festival also has art displays and other activities that attract art enthusiasts from throughout the area to Penn Avenue. For the 2003 festival, PAAI teamed with Rock Against Racism to highlight the diversity of the corridor. . In 2004 PAAI will team with the Pittsburgh Glass Center to incorporate interior exhibit space, live glass blowing demonstrations, and more. This year’s Festival will take place Saturday June 5th from noon-6PM at 5472 Penn Avenue.