CultureWire | December 2025

Quintessence Theatre Group Celebrates 16th Season with 'Chosen Families'

Quintessence Theatre Group brings epic classic drama and literature to the contemporary stage. Now, in their sixteenth season, they are celebrating chosen family through stories of laughter, adventure, friendship, and love. Learn more below. Visit Quintessence Theatre Group. 

If you haven’t already, join or renew your membership with the Cultural Alliance to help us continue uplifting Philadelphia’s vibrant arts and cultural community. Become A Member Today.

Arts & Culture in the News 

• New study on historic districts counters claim preservation limits development, housing. Read more from the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

• In Philadelphia, Frank Gehry's legacy lives on at the Art Museum. Read more from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

• Some Democrats and supporters of the National Endowment for the Humanities are questioning what they see as gutted procedures and a tilt toward handpicked projects from the Trump administration. See here for a PDF of the New York Times story.

• Penn Museum's new Native North America exhibition collaborates with Indigenous curators. Read more from WHYY.

• Despite an art market lull, Art Basel still delivers for Miami Beach. Read more from Bloomberg. 

• See how you spent your minutes, money, and mental health in 2025's art world landscape through Hyperallergic's Art World Wrapped 2025. 

Updates from the Cultural Alliance

Update on PA Creative Industries Grant Program Changes. The Cultural Alliance is coordinating with partners across the Commonwealth to review the impact of major changes PA Creative Industries (formerly PCA) recently announced to its statewide grant programs. As noted in our recently distributed Information Update, the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) program will conclude after FY26, ending the Cultural Alliance’s role as regional administrator. The Creative Sector Flex Fund will sunset after FY26, to be replaced by the new Creative Asset Program, with applicants applying directly to PA Creative Industries. The CEA program will also transition to statewide administration, with updates expected in 2026. The Cultural Alliance will continue administering CSFF and CEA through FY26 and remain the point of contact for current grantees. Current applicants and others with questions should contact: grants@philaculture.org. We will continue to provide timely updates as we collaborate with partners and key stakeholders to respond to the far-reaching implications of the PCI's plans. 

Pennsylvania’s FY26 Budget and the Impact on Arts and Culture in Greater Philadelphia. After a 135-day impasse, Pennsylvania passed its FY26 budget on November 12—bringing a mixed bag of results for our sector. The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) received modest operational increases. While PHMC’s Grants to Museums line was restored to $4M, reflecting a $2 million increase from last year's budget, PCA’s Grants to the Arts remains flat at $9M. The Commonwealth is also investing $50M in 2026 initiatives, well short of funding requested by cultural and hospitality interests. $40M will be dedicated to the Semiquincentennial celebration, with the majority of those funds going to support tourism, promotion, infrastructure, and safety associated with FIFA and other sporting events. The Cultural Alliance remains committed to advocating for stronger, sustained investment in our region’s creative community. Sign up for the Cultural Alliance's Advocacy Alerts.

The Cultural Alliance Releases its 2025 Annual Report. Our 2025 Annual Report highlights a year of resilience, advocacy, and collective creativity across Greater Philadelphia’s arts and culture sector. From securing vital public investment to delivering over $1M in grants, advancing sector research, and expanding workforce opportunities through the Bloomberg Arts Internship, the Cultural Alliance championed the people and organizations that shape our region’s creative identity. Explore how we are strengthening connections, leading with data, and building a more vibrant, equitable future for arts and culture. See the full report here.

More Than a Logo: Our Bold, New Visual Identity. Recently, the Cultural Alliance unveiled our new visual identity—a bold, modern look that reflects our mission, our future, and the vibrant creative community we serve. More than a logo, it’s a renewed commitment to the transformative power of arts and culture in Greater Philadelphia. Read President and CEO Patty Wilson Aden's full statement below and explore this exciting next chapter with us. Read the statement here.

You're Invited: The Cultural Alliance's Winter Member Mixer on 1/22. Join us for our next Member Mixer on Thursday, January 22 at InLiquid Gallery from 5-7pm for a seasonal event of networking, cocktails, and food. The exhibit featured during this event is Jasmine Alleger’s Make It Pop! This exhibition highlights and celebrates everything Pop Art. From the use of pop culture, bold colors, and mass-produced artwork to graphic styles and ironic subjects, InLiquid dives into what “makes it Pop” in their artist members' portfolios. Registration is free for Cultural Alliance members. Not a member? Contact Madeline Avarese, Membership Associate, madelinea@philaculture.org to learn how to join. RSVP today. 

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Don’t forget we offer our members great pricing on our available marketing products. Our monthly CultureWire newsletter has over 5,000 subscribers and our Job Bank attracts over 70,000 pageviews per month, so what are you waiting for? Work with the Cultural Alliance to promote your upcoming show, program, or just to remind the sector who you are.  For more information on how you can utilize our Marketing Services and Advertising Options, please reach out to Madeline Avarese, Membership Associate, at madelinea@philaculture.org.

By the Numbers

The Bloomberg Arts Internship remains a cornerstone of our workforce development initiatives, offering high school students a transformative, paid experience that blends hands-on cultural internships, college readiness, and professional skill-building. This year marked record participation, detailed in the statistics below. As part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ national initiative—alongside cities such as Boston, Detroit, and Washington, DC—Philadelphia is leading the way with tremendous growth, underscoring the program’s expanding reach and lasting impact. Learn more about our work with the Bloomberg Arts Internship in 2025 via our FY25 Annual Report.

Support the Cultural Alliance this Holiday Season 

Erica Harney, Philadelphia Seasons Greetings, 2025

This Holiday season, support the Cultural Alliance and you could win one of our raffle items! 

• All gifts $100 and above will be entered for a chance to win Philadelphia Artist Erica Harney’s Philadelphia Season’s Greetings, an original watercolor commissioned by the Cultural Alliance for our 2025 Holiday Card. 
• All gifts $25 and above will be entered for a chance to win one of three $100 Blick giftcards, generously provided by Blick Art Materials

All gifts are fully tax deductible and support the Cultural Alliance’s work championing arts and culture across Greater Philadelphia. 

Winners will be announced on January 15, 2026, please include your full name and current email at the time of donation to ensure notification. If you have any questions or need information about addition giving methods, please contact Director of Development Shaina Cash at shainac@philaculture.org

Thank you for your support of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance! 

Job Bank

The Cultural Alliance’s Job Bank is Greater Philadelphia's top resource for job opportunities in arts and culture. You’ll find positions at all professional levels in museums, theaters, historic sites, art galleries, dance studios, community centers, and much more. Keep reading for the most recent listings from Member organizations.

• Human Resources Coordinator at the Franklin Institute
• Archives Intern at the Science History Institute 
• Senior Accountant at the Museum of American Revolution
• Administrative Assistant at Haverford College 
• Intermediate Strings Teaching Artist at Play On Philly
• Director of Development at the Asian Arts Initiative 
• Director of Development Operations at the Settlement Music School 
• Major Gifts Officer at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
• Songwriting (Rap) Instructor at Rock to the Future
• Board of Directors Members at Journey Arts 

Want to connect to candidates? The Cultural Alliance’s Job Bank has 60,000+ views each month. Job listings are free for Cultural Alliance Members and start at just $95 for non-Members. Learn more.