CultureWire | October 2025

FamFrequency Productions Showcases Opportunities to Support Young Creatives  

Cultural Alliance Member FamFrequency Productions is amplifying the voices of Philadelphia’s next generation of music innovators. This nonprofit fellowship empowers young creatives to turn their passion for music into sustainable careers—blending artistry with real-world training in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

October 21 (5:30–8 PM): Soundtrack to the Screen: The Art of Music in Film & TV
An immersive F.A.M. (For Artists & Makers) session featuring industry pros sharing insights on sync, scoring, and sound.

November 8 (12–2:30 PM): Summer Accelerator Showcase & Graduation
Celebrate student-artists as they perform original work and step forward as the city’s next wave of creative entrepreneurs.

From beats to business plans, FamFrequency is shaping the future of Philly’s music scene—one young artist at a time. Learn more about FamFrequency Productions.

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 

• As of October 6, federally funded cultural institutions—from the Smithsonian and the National Gallery of Art to National Park Service sites like Philadelphia's Independence Hall—have closed amid the government shutdown, whose full impact on the arts sector is still unfolding. Read more from Hyperallergic.  

• 7th Annual Delco Arts Week puts Delaware County talent on display. Read more from DELCO Today.

• Temple University stakes out a Center City outpost at PAFA. Read more from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

• Calder Gardens, a light-filled museum and prairie, houses the sculptor's work in Philadelphia. Read more from Colossal.

• Philadelphia fall classical concert season is underway, despite funding challenges. Read more from the Philadelphia Inquirer.  

There's still time to RSVP to next week's Annual Meeting & Arts Party! Join us at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University for the largest annual gathering of Greater Philadelphia’s arts and culture community. This year’s theme—Standing Together: Arts and Culture in Solidarity—celebrates the resilience, power, and unity of our sector. Every year, the Cultural Alliance’s Annual Meeting & Arts Party is the night when hundreds of artists, cultural leaders, creative entrepreneurs, and supporters from across the region come together to celebrate, collaborate, and look ahead. You’ll hear updates on our advocacy and other initiatives that are crucial to the vitality of our sector. Get a sneak peek at what’s next, and enjoy regionally inspired food and drinks from 12th Street Catering while mingling with friends old and new.

Tickets: $25 for staff from any Cultural Alliance member organization. | $50 for non-members
Don’t miss this unforgettable evening—get your tickets today!

Thank you to our Sponsors: 

Platinum: PNC, The PSS Group, William Penn Foundation 

Gold: Longwood Gardens, TD Bank 

Silver: Creative Philadelphia, The Mann Center

Supporters: Visit Philadelphia, Signature57, Rowse Consulting, Ensemble Arts Philly

InKind: The Franklin Institute

Additional Sponsors: Scout, Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, Custom Picture Framer, Drexel University

Performance Curator: ArtPhilly 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE! Your Annual Meeting sponsorship will provide crucial support for the region’s arts and cultural future, with visibility for your brand to our 400+ attendees. Interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities? Contact Shaina Cash at shainac@philaculture.org. 

Updates from the Cultural Alliance

Applications for the PA Creative Sector Flex Fund Close Friday, October 17. From now until Friday, October 17, eligible applicants can apply for the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Flex Fund. This $5,000 grant provides support to eligible organizations that provide consistent (at least two years) artistic programming and/or arts services in Pennsylvania. This grant is funded by the PA Creative Industries (powered by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts), and the application period is September 8 - October 17, 2025, with a grant period of January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026. 
To learn how to apply for the grant, please see a video tutorial here. Please also see a slide deck from a recent information session here. If you have additional questions, please reach out to grants@philaculture.org. 

Call for 2025-2026 Creative Sector Flex Fund Panelists! Serve as a Creative Sector Flex Fund panelist. Each year the Cultural Alliance seeks individuals to serve as community panelists to help award the Creative Sector Flex Fund, funded by PA Creative Industries (powered by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts). Panelists contribute artistic, administrative, educational, and operational perspectives in discussion and evaluation of grant applications. As a panelist, you’ll have the opportunity to forge new connections with peers who share your passion for arts and culture while supporting your community and earning a stipend. Learn more.

ADVERTISEMENT

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 gets over 70,000 pageviews per month, so what are you waiting for? This fall, use Cultural Alliance marketing products to promote your upcoming show, program, event or just to remind the sector of who you are. For more information on how you can utilize our Marketing Services and Advertising Options, please visit or reach out to madelinea@philaculture.org.

By the Numbers

From our latest report, A Look at Theater-Going Habits in Greater Philadelphia, we surveyed individuals on the importance of arts and culture to their quality of life and community’ business, economy, and local jobs. Those surveyed in public opinion poll both believed that arts and culture were very or extremely important (54%) to their community’s quality of life (with only 7% saying it was not important at all). 49% also thought it was very or extremely important to their community’s business, economy, and local jobs. See the full report online. 

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.

• Strategic Planner (Request for Proposal) for the Wolf Performing Arts Center 

• Individual Giving Manager at Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial

• Family Concept Store Shoppe Associate at pucciManuli 

• Residence Manager at the Rock School for Dance Education

• Education Programs Assistant at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

• Seasonal Museum Greeter at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library 

• Substitute Teachers Needed at PlayArts 

• External Affairs Assistant at the Franklin Institute

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.