Frequently Asked Questions About "Bread and Cup"


What is "Bread and Cup: Germantown’s Multi-cultural Coffeehouse"?
Coffeehouses were popular places in the 50’s and 60’s for people to gather for inexpensive refreshments and live entertainment, especially poetry and folk music. "Bread and Cup" seeks to recreate that relaxed atmosphere in a way that embraces a broader range of performance styles so that all the diversity that makes Germantown such a special place to live can come together.It is hoped that poets, artists, singers, storytellers, and others of various races, ages, and perspectives will share their gifts.

When and where is "Bread and Cup"?
The first Sunday of each month, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, beginning February, 2003 in the Longstreth Auditorium of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown (35 West Chelten Avenue; phone (215) 843-8811). The Church is convenient to SEPTA routes 23, 26, 65, H, J, and XH.

What types of performances will be showcased?
We want to present a forum for a wide range of performers with a diversity of ages, styles, cultures, and formats. Our only restrictions are that 1) the performances respect the fact that the Coffeehouse is in a church and 2) each presentation last no more that 15 minutes. It is not necessary that performers address issues of faith, but this would be a great forum to showcase works of meaning. Each month, we hope to have several scheduled acts and an "open mike" time for other performers with shorter presentations.

In addition to the performances, what else can I expect?
We will have beverages and baked goods available for you to share with your friends in a warm atmosphere. You will have an opportunity to interact with many of the artists through questions and answers after their act, or informally once they leave the stage. We hope to have the works of visual artists and photographers displayed in our Coffeehouse space as well. There may even be interviews with community figures and others of interest and discussions on topics of interest.

If I would like to perform or display art, what should I do?
Contact Kevin Porter at (215) 438-3566 or via e-mail at KvPrt@aol.com. If you e-mail please put "Coffeehouse" in the subject line. Unfortunately, we cannot pay anyone for their artistic offering at this time, be we hope that this will be a great place for exposure and networking for all visual art for sale. The scheduled acts will be chosen with the intent of presenting a program that is artistically, culturally and demographically diverse.

Why "Bread and Cup"?
One of the common purposes of the arts and communities of faith is to provide a connection in the human experience. The Germantown community is rich in its cultural, racial and economic diversity, however there are not many places providing an opportunity to experience true community in the midst of this diversity.

A coffeehouse format is a safe, entertaining and affordable way to create a space that allows for a rich exchange of diverse perspectives so that individuals can benefit for the depth of others’ experiences. Through the arts it is our hope that we might all be able to better appreciate the "similarities that underlie our apparent differences , as well as the differences that are beneath our apparent similarities" (paraphrased for Yvonne Agazarian).

We want to create a space where everyone feels welcome, respected and affirmed. Your presence will help make it so.