Celebrate Black History Month in Northern Liberties With First Friday Art, Music and Community

Northern Liberties is kicking off Black History Month in a big way this year, with a brand-new, two-location First Friday celebration on Friday, February 6, 2026. This special evening, organized by the Northern Liberties Business Improvement District, puts Black creativity, culture and community at the center of the neighborhood’s arts scene. Even better, it all happens inside two Black and female-owned spaces: Trunc and 1040 Creative, both right along N. 2nd Street in the heart of the district.

The night starts at Trunc (929 N. 2nd Street) from 5:00pm to 8:00pm with the opening of “3RD WRL GRL VIEW” by artist Leanne Mair. Guests can catch Mair creating a work live in the front window from 5:00pm to 5:45pm, turning the storefront into a living studio. From 6:00pm to 7:00pm, the energy keeps flowing with a special performance from Faith the Violinist, filling the space with live music while visitors enjoy lite refreshments and a complimentary wine tasting. AfroPop Soda and Rap Snacks will be available for purchase, making it a true vibe.

Trunc, Philadelphia’s only Black-owned, veteran-owned and female-owned maker space and retail shop, is known for championing environmentally conscious, handcrafted and locally made pieces. Co-owner Dorothea Gamble invites neighbors to “join us for a vibrant night of art, music, lite bites and good people” and to meet the artist in a setting that feels like both gallery and community living room. The exhibition runs through May 6, 2026, so if you miss opening night, you still have plenty of time to stop by.

Just up the block, 1040 Creative Cultural Art Center & Gallery (1040 N. 2nd Street, Suite 301) keeps the celebration going from 6:00pm to 9:00pm with “Small Works Wonders!”. This special exhibition and benefit raises funds for Youth Summer Arts Scholarships at 1040 Creative. Visitors can browse and buy small works by artists Pauline Houston McCall, Wanda Payne and Misty Sol, with each piece purchased directly supporting scholarship opportunities for young creatives. Expect live music, lite bites and a welcoming, community-centered atmosphere.

Co-owner and artist Pauline Houston McCall says that supporting youth arts scholarships helps keep creativity accessible and opens doors for the next generation of artists. The scholarships fund an interactive Youth Summer Arts Camp at 1040 Creative, where students from kindergarten through high school explore drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery and more. This summer’s theme, “World Arts,” will introduce kids to techniques inspired by global traditions—from African masks to Japanese pottery and Mexican-inspired mural painting. Scholarship students will also participate in “CWAMI” (Community Wall Art Mobile Initiative), 1040 Creative’s own mural project.

Both receptions are free to attend and open to all, and both exhibits continue through the rest of February (and beyond for Trunc), making this First Friday a perfect way to honor Black History Month while supporting Black women artists, local businesses and youth arts education in Northern Liberties.