Testimony before Philadelphia City Council
March 29, 2006

Peggy Amsterdam, President, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Good Afternoon Council President Verna and esteemed members of City Council. My name is Peggy Amsterdam and as President of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, a membership organization representing over 300 arts and culture institutions in the region, I am here to testify in support of a continued public investment in arts and culture in the City’s Fiscal-Year 2007 Operating Budget and Five-Year Plan.

Four years ago, the board of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund adopted the financial goal of growing the fund to $5 million in 5 years. We supported this simple and achievable plan to increase the fund in increments of $650,000. It was determined, at the time, that $5 million would enable the Cultural Fund to make grant awards that account for inflation and that keep pace with the growth of cultural organizations. This plan has had its setbacks but nonetheless, it is still our goal. In a year where there is a budget surplus, the time to push the plan is now.

Arts and culture organizations are providing more services and proving their value to the City. Arts and culture is the face of Philadelphia. This is how we are known to the world. This is what has gotten us recognition as the “next great city”, has attracted tourists and new residents and created a condo boom. I am proud to say that public support of arts and culture is an economic strategy that produces notable results.

Arts and culture assets continue to make this a region of choice for young people, families, businesses and tourists. Community-based arts and culture helps eliminate barriers between culturally and economically diverse people. Arts and culture has steadily been transforming declining neighborhoods into thriving communities. And arts and culture contributes to our individual well being by providing us with activities that renew our spirits as we take on our busy lives.

Yet for some reason arts and culture has been relegated to be a discretionary element in the total vision of what it means to ensure the highest quality of life for the people of Philadelphia. I can tell you that arts and culture is neither discretionary nor is it a stand-alone element. Instead, it is a vital component in the economic vitality of our region. I have a few quick examples in my testimony today that will show that arts and culture offers solutions to help with employment issues, housing issues, educational issues, civic participation issues, as well as aesthetic issues – making arts and culture a key and vital ingredient for positive change in our region.

Arts and culture rehabilitates facilities, families, and workers. The African Cultural Alliance of North America located in West Philadelphia unites the arts with social services. In addition to their annual arts and culture events, they offer a child protective services program that keeps families together, repairs unfit living spaces, and provides job training to workers who are not attractive to mainstream employers.

Arts and culture supports educational opportunities by providing high quality exhibits and classes for little or no cost. In 2005, The Wagner Free Institute of Science, located in North Philadelphia, educated 27,000 children and adults in subjects of contemporary science such as genetics and biotechnology. The Wagner’s adult classes are taught by faculty of some of the area’s most respected institutions like Penn and Princeton Universities. These adult classes were enjoyed by over 2,000 residents with an interest in science as well as area professionals such as Fairmount park employees and gardeners at Historic Bartram’s Garden.

Arts and culture engages residents of all ages in the civic activities necessary to help neighborhoods thrive. Visual arts organization COSACOSA at Large, is using multimedia technology to rekindle community involvement. Last year, they brought together youth from the Nicetown-Tioga neighborhood to produce a video to show how teenagers can serve as community leaders by engaging young people and inspiring adult community members to participate and make a difference. This project was responsible for COSACOSA representing Philadelphia as one of Eight U.S. community-based organizations using multimedia technology to engage youth in civic participation.

Our cultural organizations are some of the best museums, musical organizations, schools, theatres and historic attractions in the country. Having traveled a bit myself I can tell you that there aren’t many cities with the cultural product that we have right here. And it is our responsibility to preserve our heritage and show the world what Philadelphia is and has. We can only do that through the arts.

Arts and culture is woven into the quality of life in our region and all of my previous examples are taken from organizations that receive a small amount of operating support from the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. Our City’s public investment in arts and culture is generating invaluable programming, service and support of all those who live and visit here. The benefits we gain from the small investment the City makes through the Philadelphia Cultural Fund are significant and yet the Cultural Fund is still only $2 million.

Nonprofit arts and culture organizations run on tight, zero-based budgets, which are spent down each year. Unlike private businesses that exist solely to turn a profit from their investment, nonprofits put their investment right back into the community. Because of nonprofit arts and culture investments, we have a City that is not only rich in the variety of its cultural assets but also in services that touch all of our lives. I urge you to remain committed to providing the operating support that is critical to many of our cultural organizations. I ask that you carefully consider making arts and culture a priority and increase the Cultural Fund.

I thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and hope that your completed budget reflects your continued commitment to seeing the Philadelphia Cultural Fund achieve its $5 million FY 2008 goal.

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