Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Future: Forward - Signals of Change in Education

This year, the Cultural Alliance is launching Future: Forward, a new initiative to use strategic foresight in thinking about how our members and sector can prepare for the future in the next ten years and beyond.

On February 25, we'll host "Rehearsing the Future," where we will present scenarios of what the future could be for arts and culture in Greater Philadelphia, and ask for your feedback. In preparation for that event, our staff is  scanning the news for signs of change, not just in arts and culture, but around key themes outside of our sector, such as technology, the economy, politics, demographics, employment trends and more.  

From now until "Rehearsing the Future," we’ll be sharing these future signals with you through our blogFacebookTwitter and CultureWire newsletter, and we encourage you to share your thoughts with us.

Signals of Future Change - Education: 

Here are some signals of change we've collected to think about how changes in education practices and philosophies will impact the future of arts and culture. 

The education gap between rich & poor is growing wider. Can community-based arts organizations and projects help fill the access gap?

Peer-to-peer learning helps kids learn from each other through project-based learning and collaboration. The arts are proven builders of creative and collaborative skill sets.

Competency-based degrees are emerging as a popular alternative to traditional degrees awarded on the basis of completion of credit hours. Working in arts & culture often requires flexibility and diverse skills, so why should the way we teach it follow traditional models?

Schools and businesses will co-produce programs to teach job-specific skills. In-school collaborations are an excellent fit for arts & culture nonprofits.

Acceleration of technology gives rise to new definitions of literacy. How will the art and arts administration jobs of the future change due to technology and new expectations of skills?

The new "new education philanthropy" supports existing infrastructure as opposed to trying to revamp an entire school system. How can arts & culture support traditional education systems?

Museums are emerging as learning hubs, and give everyone equal access to the same learning resources and technology. How can museums adapt and evolve to most effectively serve their communities?

This year, the Cultural Alliance is launching Future: Forward, a new initiative to use strategic foresight in thinking about how our members and sector can prepare for the future in the next ten years and beyond. Here are some signals of change we've collected to think about how changes in education practices and philosophies will impact the future of arts and culture.