FAQ: Artist Studios at Painter's Folly Program
- PFPA
- Sep 17, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 16
How long did it run: The Artist Studios at Painter's Folly program was an idea born out of both an artist's dream of a local art studio in Chadds Ford and the Patterhn Ives 2022 Preservation Plan, which proposed three potential uses for the building: a bed and breakfast, artist studios, and artist apartments. The Artist Studios at Painter's Folly operated from January 2023 to March 2024.
Building Use: The program used three rooms as communal art studios: the Pyle and Wyeth studios on the second floor and the NC Studio on the third floor. A first-floor gallery was also established in the den/library to display and sell work to the public during paid house tours given by former homeowner, Helen Sipala.
Model sessions were held in the Pyle Studio biweekly throughout the year, except for July and August, which were taken off for vacation. These sessions were intended to allow professional artists to draw or paint the model in a group, shared setting, which enabled artists to keep costs down for their individual businesses by sharing the model fee. Helen Sipala was one of the models and wore the same outfit she wore for the first time when she sat for Andrew Wyeth.
Who Was Involved: Annette Alessi, a master of fine arts, worked as the volunteer artist coordinator. Alessi dreamt of a Chadds Ford group artist studio and shared her idea with Barbara Moore of Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery. Moore introduced Alessi to Maryann Furlong, who was then the manager of Chadds Ford Township. After approval from the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors, Furlong and Alessi planned the program for 2022, with a scheduled launch in January 2023.
Before the program closure, Chadds Ford Township and the Brandywine Museum of Art discussed adding Painter's Folly to the museum tour catalog to interpret its history and increase exposure to artwork on display for future art sales.
According to Alessi, the artists enjoyed working together, especially when ideas and opportunities could be shared. In September 2023, the Painter's Folly artists held an exhibition at the Station Gallery in Greenville, DE, featuring the members' works.
Pricing: Several studio and scheduling options were available for artists. Each session lasted 3 months, and the building was open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Artists displayed their work in a first-floor gallery, and Chadds Ford Township received a 30% commission on sales.
Pyle Studio (2nd floor studio): open to two groups of 6 artists.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for $150 a month
Tuesdays and Thursdays for $100 a month
Wyeth Studio (2nd floor studio)
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for $150 a month
Tuesdays and Thursdays for $100 a month
NC Studio (3rd floor studio): $200 a month and open to one artist
Studio Rental Income | Commission from Art Sales | Supply Costs | |
2023 | $7,195.00 | ||
2024 | $1,450.00 | ||
Total | $8,645.00 | $1,170.00 | -$2,856.00 |
Net Profit: $6,959.00
PHMC Keystone Grant Award: Chadds Ford Township received a 2023 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) Keystone Grant awarded for the Painter’s Folly Rehabilitation Phase 1 project. The award consisted of a $100,000 matching grant designated for ADA accessibility improvements, within a total project budget of $317,060. The proposed Rehabilitation Phase 1 scope included the construction of a driveway ramp, leveling of existing steps, installation of an ADA-compliant bathroom, and creation of an ADA-accessible first-floor artist studio.
Why did it end: After a Painter's Folly studio artist raised concerns about ADA accessibility, ventilation, and unverified mold issues in the home, Chadds Ford Township discontinued the Artist Studios at Painter's Folly program in March 2024.
In a 31 July 2025 Painter’s Folly update document, the Township attributed the program’s discontinuation to unresolved ADA accessibility issues and stated that the use of the 2023 PHMC Keystone Grant had been deferred due to the need for “broader repairs” before advancing the studio concept. The Township did not raise matching funds for the project and did not initiate or complete any sub-projects associated with the grant.
In October 2025, Chadds Ford Township received an extension on the 2023 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) Keystone Grant awarded for the Painter’s Folly Rehabilitation Phase 1 project. Per the Keystone Grant requirements, Keystone Grant funds cannot be used for any costs outside the scope of the project for which the grant was awarded.
Important Note: Chadds Ford Township experienced significant turnover in the township manager position and underwent another turnover during the artist studio program. All Artist Studios at Painter's Folly marketing activities ceased in December 2023 due to the management turnover. Since the purchase of Painter's Folly in 2018, Chadds Ford Township has had five township managers.
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