The Pop District

A strategic expansion of The Andy Warhol Museum

WHAT IS THE POP DISTRICT?

New place. New Program.

As a physical and programmatic expansion of The Andy Warhol Museum, The Pop District will comprehensively transform Pittsburgh’s eastern North Shore through the power of arts, creativity, and economic development.

Launching in May 2022, The Pop District is a long-term, multi-phase project that will feature a new, live performance and event facility, a six-square-block public art initiative, and a scalable workforce development program focused on creative economy training for diverse, regional youth.

NEW PLACE

The Warhol has invested in a real estate strategy to own and/or lease multiple spaces and properties around the museum with the intent of transforming them into arts & culture assets for the region.

Phase I: Launched in May 2022.

Public art and gathering in Rose Way next to The Warhol.

Public Art

Strategic investment in local and national artists to enhance neighborhood aesthetic, beautification, and community engagement.


Concept design of 7th floor program space with community space and program participants.

Learning Hubs

New spaces for creative economy workforce programs, focusing on digital marketing and 21st century skillset development.


Phase II: 2024-

New venue rendering of a multi-story complex with brick and glass facade and community green space in the foreground.

New Venue

A new, 40,000+ square foot live performance & event venue welcoming 50-75,000 new visitors and featuring an 800+ capacity concert space.

A bird's eye view rendering of the E. General Robinson St. and Sandusky St. intersection with multi-story new venue complex and green space.

Warhol "Campus"

Museum. Programs. Events. Parties. Multiple Warhol destinations for visitors and community on Pittsburgh's eastern North Shore.


NEW PROGRAM

Inspired by Andy Warhol's early career as a graphic illustrator, The Warhol has launched a portfolio of workforce development programs dedicated to empowering youth (ages 14-25+) with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to compete and succeed in the creative economy.

ANNUAL GOALS:

  • Matriculate 100+ program participants

  • Create 25-30+ full-time and part-time jobs

  • Create 50-75+ "gigs" and internships

  • Generate $1 million in wages

WORKFORCE PROGRAMS

A young woman readies a film shoot with subject in front of public art space next to The Warhol.

Creative Agency

Powered by young people, this in-house agency provides media and content creation for both The Warhol and external clients.

A classroom with participants sitting at tables receiving instruction from teachers.

Certificate Program

Focused on digital marketing, this six-month program trains participants in a suite of creative technical tools and industry skillsets.

Two young people operating camera and film equipment.

Learning & Public Engagement Programs

Cross-cutting 21st century skillset development focused on high-school aged participants.

A stacked image of Andy Warhol (top) and a workforce development participant (bottom).

WHY WARHOL?

Andy Warhol was born in 1928 to Andrej and Julia Warhola, Eastern European immigrants from what is now Slovakia. The Warholas were a working class family and saw unique creative talent in their youngest son, Andy.

Throughout his youth in Pittsburgh, Andy spent time at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh — participating in drawing classes, touring the collection, and attending exhibitions. After high school, he attended Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) and majored in pictorial design.

After graduation, Andy moved to New York City and launched a successful advertising career that still inspires creative professionals around the world to this day. He never lost his desire to be a visual artist, and by the 1960's, Andy Warhol became world famous and is now synonymous with an entire genre of art, Pop.

Andy's life, art, and legacy lives on through the The Andy Warhol Museum and its work, with a particular focus on diverse youth.

As such, The Warhol is bringing Andy's New York City creative legacy back home to Pittsburgh, where the museum, its award-winning programs, entrepreneurial people, and a new creative "campus" will anchor the Steel City's creative future.

A young person looking at a computer screen while sitting at a desk.

OPPORTUNITIES

There are an array of engagement opportunities to collaborate with The Warhol and to support the Pop District's many elements — ranging from capital and program support for district projects to contracting our creative agency for digital marketing and social media services.

To learn more and to get additional information on Pop District opportunities, please visit our contact page.

BE A PART OF THE POP DISTRICT

  • Be a Client

  • Jobs, gigs, and internships

  • Program Collaboration

  • Sponsor/Fund Programs

  • Sponsor The Pop District

  • Move to The Pop District

For more information about The Andy Warhol Museum visit warhol.org. To buy tickets for your next visit to the museum, click the button below!

The front entrance of the Andy Warhol Museum with double doors and two adjacent window displays with TV screens and colorful wallpaper inside.

Photo by Abby Warhola