About the Fleisher Art Memorial

About the Fleisher Art Memorial

The Fleisher Art Memorial, founded by Samuel S. Fleisher as the Graphic Sketch Club in 1898, is now the nation's oldest tuition-free, community-based art school. From its inception, Fleisher's mission has been to guarantee access to professional arts instruction, especially for minority and low-income populations. Fleisher continues to be guided by the spirit of its founder, who believed that the arts were vital to the life of any community and wanted to reduce barriers, both real and presumptive, to participation in the arts.
In 1944, when Samuel Fleisher died, the Graphic Sketch Club lived on. The name of the Club was changed to the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art was charged with administration of the program, collections, and facilities of this independent 501(c)3 organization.
Today, Fleisher offers art classes and workshops for children and adults of all levels, exhibitions, and a variety of unique programs in partnership with the community.