A painting of Oxford Arts Alliance current South Third Street home.
OXFORD — At 38 South Third Street, in the heart of downtown Oxford, something more than a building resides: a spark. It’s 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 — but to become part of it.
That spark is the Oxford Arts Alliance. And now, it needs your help.
After nearly two decades as Southern Chester County’s 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 — it could lose its role at the heart of Oxford’s cultural life.
“When University of the Arts closed, people said, ‘If only I had known, I would have donated,’” said Jennifer Kriesel, Executive Director. “Well, now we do know. And this is our moment — together — to make sure we don’t look back with regret.”
Since its founding in 2008, the Oxford Arts Alliance (OxAA) has made a lasting impact:
• Over 100 gallery exhibitions have given local and regional artists a platform to shine.
• More than 5,000 art and music lessons have nurtured creativity in students of all ages.
• Scholarships and sliding-scale tuition have made sure no student is turned away due to cost.
But the real story is told through the people it’s touched — 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.
“The Oxford Arts Alliance has been instrumental in both of my daughters’ creative journeys,” said longtime OxAA parent Shannon Boutilier-Hall. “It helped launch their confidence and their careers. This organization matters—deeply.”
That sentiment is echoed by community leaders.
“The Arts Alliance is more than a gallery—it’s an important part of Oxford’s identity,” said Leslie Sleesman, Interim Executive Director of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. “It brings people together, promotes a creative community, and inspires future generations.”
To preserve this vibrant creative space, the Oxford Arts Alliance must raise $250,000 in the coming months. This is the immediate goal — 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.
This is more than a fundraiser. It’s a chance to preserve a home where creativity thrives and community grows. Have you walked past the gallery on First Friday?
Heard the sound of a student’s first piano recital?
Found joy in the hum of creation upstairs?
If this place has ever touched your life, even once, we ask:
Will you help keep it alive?
No matter the amount — $10, $100, or $1,000 — your gift matters. You’re not just helping save a building.
You’re preserving a place where the arts live and belong.
“We believe in the power of community,” said Kriesel. “If every person who’s ever stepped through our doors gave just a little — we wouldn’t just save a building. We’d secure something much bigger: a future filled with music, creativity, and connection.”
Thank you for believing in the arts — and for standing with us when it matters most.
Give today:
Online: www.oxfordart.org/donate
By Mail: Oxford Arts Alliance, 38 S. Third Street, Oxford, PA 19363
By Phone: (610) 467-0301
