Making Art and History “Useful”: August Wilson House

Wilson imagined his childhood home as a place of refuge for artists and writers—a site of community creativity and renewal. Wilson himself never wanted the house to become a museum—rather, he wanted the home to be directly “useful” to the community.    

In August 2022, the August Wilson House reopened to the public as a community arts center, the culmination of a 17-year project to realize Wilson’s vision. HiP’s grant has helped the organization renovate the home interior into an interpretive site and turned the backyard into a fully open and accessible outdoor theater space, including an ADA-compliant boardwalk. The August Wilson House partners with other local arts and performance organizations to support and stage the work of local playwrights as well.    

Additionally, HiP funds have supported the House’s ongoing Fellowship and Artist in Residence programs, designed to nurture early-career artists and playwrights, and embraced Wilson’s vision of creating greater inclusion and access for artists of color. Mellon’s grant will also support the renovation of neighboring Cassatt Street row houses to provide studio space and housing for future fellows and visiting artists.    

Throughout the development and restoration process, the August Wilson House has sought to maintain open, trusting relationships with the neighboring community, local arts groups, and city universities. The House aligns its design goals with the Hill District’s Master Community Plan and Environmental “Greenprint,” developed by award-winning landscape architect Walter Hood.    

 In renewing this historic site, the organization encourages all who engage with Wilson’s work to do as the artist himself instructed: “confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness.”