Art meets technology at Philly Tech Week 2019’s kickoff festival during First Friday

This year’s week-long celebration of technology and innovation begins on Friday, May 3, and with a special new location: Old City!

We chose Old City for the Philly Tech Week 2019 presented by Comcast Kickoff Festival because it’s already home to a growing number of technology companies. But that’s just the beginning.

This year’s kickoff aims to blend the best of PTW19 with a 27-year-old tradition of arts and culture in Philadelphia known as First Friday where galleries traditionally open their doors and the sidewalks fill with people looking to see the newest collections. Meet technologists, artists and entrepreneurs alike through this neighborhood-wide, one-night activation.

Looking for art to hang in your office or home, and support the local creative community at the same time? Join our “Buy local art” challenge and help us reach the goal of $10,000 of local art purchased by the tech community during Philly Tech Week 2019 presented by Comcast.

NEXT UP: We are looking to create a beautiful map of the PTW19 Kickoff Festival footprint featuring the companies and organizations that wish to be open and a part of the event by being represented on the map as a location open for some period of time to the public between 5 to 10 p.m. that first Friday night in May.

WANT IN? We’d love to include as many galleries, restaurants, retail spaces and offices as possible — understanding that not every venue will have a “tech” activation for the evening but that some will just open their doors to curious PTW19 Kickoff Festival attendees to check out. No pressure to make something tech-related happen (although it would be a perfect timing to do something tech-themed, if nothing else is already in the works).

Not sure what to do but you want to be a part? That’s OK — we have some connections to share. 🙂 Send Qs to events@technicallymedia.com, but fill out this application first:

There is no cost associated with being listed on the map and no requirement from the organizers of Philly Tech Week other than the commitment to greet our community with open doors. We have a deadline of Feb. 15 to submit logos and a 50-word description of the venue. We think the map will be attractive and useful enough to use as promotional material to encourage engagement at First Friday all year round.

MAJOR KEY ALERT: We’re crazy excited to be able to share that our pals in the cloud, Linode, will open up their gorgeous space at 3rd and Arch streets to be the official host for the Philly Tech Week 2019 presented by Comcast Kickoff Festival in Old City! Have you seen Linode? We won’t even make you click the link — I mean, LOOK and see why we can’t wait:

(Courtesy photo)

There’s so much more to this year’s kickoff celebration yet to come. Excited about the festival? Share it with the world (but don’t forget to tag us!) — @PhillyTechWeek and #PTW19.