{"id":31214,"date":"2025-07-18T09:03:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T13:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=31214"},"modified":"2025-07-22T10:30:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T14:30:45","slug":"oxford-arts-alliance-seeks-funds-to-buy-current-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=31214","title":{"rendered":"Oxford Arts Alliance seeks funds to buy current building"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A painting of Oxford Arts Alliance current South Third Street home.<\/p><\/div>\n

OXFORD \u2014 At 38 South Third Street, in the heart of downtown Oxford, something more than a building resides: a spark. It\u2019s where first violin lessons blossom into lifelong passion, where young artists see their work proudly displayed, and where neighbors gather not just to experience art \u2014 but to become part of it.<\/p>\n

That spark is the Oxford Arts Alliance. And now, it needs your help.<\/p>\n

After nearly two decades as Southern Chester County\u2019s leading center for arts education and community engagement, the Oxford Arts Alliance is at risk of losing its home. The building is being sold this summer, and without swift community support to raise the funds necessary for its purchase, the Alliance could lose more than just space \u2014 it could lose its role at the heart of Oxford\u2019s cultural life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen University of the Arts closed, people said, \u2018If only I had known, I would have donated,\u2019\u201d said Jennifer Kriesel, Executive Director. \u201cWell, now we do know. And this is our moment \u2014 together \u2014 to make sure we don\u2019t look back with regret.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since its founding in 2008, the Oxford Arts Alliance (OxAA) has made a lasting impact:<\/p>\n

\u2022<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Over 100 gallery exhibitions have given local and regional artists a platform to shine.<\/p>\n

\u2022<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>More than 5,000 art and music lessons have nurtured creativity in students of all ages.<\/p>\n

\u2022<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Scholarships and sliding-scale tuition have made sure no student is turned away due to cost.<\/p>\n

But the real story is told through the people it\u2019s touched \u2014 a child who finds their voice through a paintbrush, a teen discovering the piano, a shy college student feeling seen for the first time at a gallery opening.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Oxford Arts Alliance has been instrumental in both of my daughters\u2019 creative journeys,\u201d said longtime OxAA parent Shannon Boutilier-Hall. \u201cIt helped launch their confidence and their careers. This organization matters\u2014deeply.\u201d<\/p>\n

That sentiment is echoed by community leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Arts Alliance is more than a gallery\u2014it\u2019s an important part of Oxford\u2019s identity,\u201d said Leslie Sleesman, Interim Executive Director of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. \u201cIt brings people together, promotes a creative community, and inspires future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

To preserve this vibrant creative space, the Oxford Arts Alliance must raise $250,000 in the coming months. This is the immediate goal \u2014 enough to secure the building. But the long-term vision is larger: with full community support, OxAA hopes to raise $625,000 to purchase the building outright and make essential repairs.<\/p>\n

This is more than a fundraiser. It\u2019s a chance to preserve a home where creativity thrives and community grows. Have you walked past the gallery on First Friday?<\/p>\n

Heard the sound of a student\u2019s first piano recital?<\/p>\n

Found joy in the hum of creation upstairs?<\/p>\n

If this place has ever touched your life, even once, we ask:<\/p>\n

Will you help keep it alive?<\/p>\n

No matter the amount \u2014 $10, $100, or $1,000 \u2014 your gift matters. You’re not just helping save a building.<\/p>\n

You’re preserving a place where the arts live and belong.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe in the power of community,\u201d said Kriesel. \u201cIf every person who\u2019s ever stepped through our doors gave just a little \u2014 we wouldn\u2019t just save a building. We\u2019d secure something much bigger: a future filled with music, creativity, and connection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thank you for believing in the arts \u2014 and for standing with us when it matters most.<\/p>\n

Give today:<\/p>\n

\u00a0Online:\u00a0<\/span>www.oxfordart.org\/donate<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0By Mail: Oxford Arts Alliance, 38 S. Third Street, Oxford, PA 19363<\/p>\n

\u00a0By Phone: (610) 467-0301<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OXFORD \u2014 At 38 South Third Street, in the heart of downtown Oxford, something more than a building resides: a spark. It\u2019s where first violin lessons blossom into lifelong passion, where young artists see their work proudly displayed, and where neighbors gather not just to experience art \u2014 but to become part of it. That […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,8],"tags":[12119,3162,3254,4281],"class_list":["post-31214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-featured","tag-building","tag-featured","tag-fundraiser","tag-oxford-arts-alliance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31214"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31224,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31214\/revisions\/31224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/31213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}