The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Applauds the City of Philadelphia’s Unprecedented $21.3M Investment in Arts & Culture through the Approved Mid-Year Transfer Budget

December 1, 2022 (PHILADELPHIA, PA) – Today, during public testimony, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (“Cultural Alliance”), which represents 348 arts and culture organizations in the City of Philadelphia, applauded Mayor Jim Kenney and City Council for its unprecedented infusion of $21.3 million into the arts and culture industry through the Mid-Year Transfer. This investment comes after a three-year advocacy campaign, which was sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuing effects on the arts and culture community. 

At the end of 2021, the Cultural Alliance reported that the local industry was still down by 8,400 jobs, organizational revenue remained down by 26 percent, and 81 percent of all organizations were only working at a reduced or modified capacity. Both nationally and locally, arts and culture continues to be one of the industries slowest to rebound to pre-pandemic audience and revenue levels. Despite these ongoing challenges, the City’s arts and culture sector continues to make Philadelphia a more vibrant city, generating more than $3.4 billion in economic impact, enriching visitors’ experiences, and improving the well-being of the City’s residents. 

Last May, the Cultural Alliance rallied artists, creative entrepreneurs, arts educators, organizational leaders, and arts and culture allies at Philadelphia’s City Hall to call for greater and necessary public investment in the City’s creative economy. Reflecting diverse, passionate voices, the #FundPHLArts Rally focused on how increased public funding would allow the Philadelphia Cultural Fund to maximize its impact, ensuring equity in – and access to – arts and culture in neighborhoods across the City. The rally further focused on the necessity of the City to live up to its responsibility of supporting City -owned arts and cultural institutions, especially those that reside in and serve Black and Brown communities. 

With the approved Mid-Year Transfer, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund is now slated to be funded at $5.5 million – its highest level ever – benefitting hundreds of arts organizations. City institutions including the African American Museum in Philadelphia, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Please Touch Museum, The Dell Music Center, and more will receive infusions of significant support. 

“The Cultural Alliance has always believed that the arts in Philadelphia are an undervalued and underleveraged asset that deserve investment. This Mid-Year Transfer shows that Mayor Kenney and City Council believe that too,”said Patricia Wilson Aden, President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. “We are grateful to Mayor Jim Kenney and the City Council for this $21.3M investment through the Mid-Year Transfer. This appropriately acknowledges arts and culture as an essential economic driver and recognizes the power of our collective voices. Now, we must continue to work together – with the Mayor and City Council – to ensure that continued public investment in the arts helps us to transform the City in meaningful ways.” 

The following arts and culture organizations received budget allocations through the Mid-Year Transfer (Listed in alphabetical order): 

• African American Museum in Philadelphia
• Calder Gardens
• Georgia Gregory School of Music
• Greater Philadelphia Film Office
• Historic Philadelphia
• Mural Arts Philadelphia
• Philadelphia Cultural Fund
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Philadelphia Zoo
• Please Touch Museum
• The Dell Music Center
• The Franklin Institute
• The Mann Center for the Performing Arts

For more information regarding the Cultural Alliance and its advocacy initiatives, visit www.philaculture.org. 

About Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Established in 1972, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is the region’s leading arts and cultural advocacy, research, and marketing organization. Our mission is to “lead, strengthen and amplify the voices of a cultural community that ignites creativity, inspires people and is essential for a healthy region.” Our membership includes more than 450 organizations ranging from museums and dance companies to community art centers, historic sites, music ensembles and zoos. For more information on the Cultural Alliance, please visit www.philaculture.org.