Taller Puertorriqueño
2721 North 5th Street
Taller Puertorriqueño is a community touchstone and a nationally recognized model for organizations using the arts as a vehicle for social change and true urban renewal. The building's vivid exterior serves as a visual reminder of the power of art and culture to transform the urban landscape. Taller (literally "workshop") was established in 1974 by artists and activists looking to provide cultural training alternatives to local youth. They created a community-based graphic arts workshop, and sparked a program of vibrant neighborhood murals. Known as the "Corazón Cultural del Barrio"—the cultural heart of Latino Philadelphia—Taller's mission is to preserve, develop, and promote Puerto Rican artistic and cultural traditions, as well as to support a better understanding of other Latin American cultures and common heritage. Housed in two buildings, Taller has grown to include classrooms, a theater, two galleries, and the vibrant Julia De Burgos Books and Crafts store.