Cultural Dynamics

Launched in November 2024 by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, in partnership with PA Humanities, Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, and Creative Philadelphia, Cultural Dynamics is a collaborative, community-driven effort to shape Philadelphia’s first Cultural Plan. The process convened artists, cultural workers, institutions, funders, residents, and civic partners to understand what Philadelphia’s cultural sector needs to thrive—and to mobilize the community toward collective action.

Call to action: The findings from Cultural Dynamics underscore that Philadelphia has the talent, assets, and community imagination to lead the nation in showing how culture strengthens civic life. To realize that potential, the city must:

• Unify: Strengthen connections across neighborhoods and disciplines, build shared infrastructure, and develop a coordinated sector voice.
• Amplify: Increase the visibility, recognition, and value of arts, culture, and humanities as core to Philadelphia’s identity and future.
• Invest: Commit long-term, equitable resources to the people, spaces, and systems that sustain creative work.
   

Speak up for Philadelphia’s first Cultural Plan. Read the full Cultural Dynamics report for how you can strengthen our city. Explore how the cultural community, legislators and policymakers, business and philanthropic sectors can analyze, take accountability, and act upon policies and recommendations. 

Engagement & Participation 

• Citywide kick-off convening in November 2024 hosted at Drexel University, featuring NEA Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson

• 500+ total participants representing arts, culture, humanities, education, civic sectors, and neighborhoods citywide

• 4 Community Conversations held across Philadelphia in partnership with Ensemble Arts Philly (Center City), the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University (North Philadelphia), FringeArts (South Philadelphia), and the Institute of Contemporary Art of University of Pennsylvania (West Philadelphia).

• 1 virtual Cultural Dynamics Insight Session to validate and refine findings

• 114 narrative responses to sector-wide online survey

• 6,000+ coded statements gathered from transcripts and surveys

Read the full Cultural Dynamics report, a vision and action plan for Philadelphia’s cultural future.

Download Report

Explore key insights and highlights from Cultural Dynamics in this concise overview.

Download Summary

Project Partners 

Established in 1972, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance has proudly served as the region’s foremost advocate for arts and cultural for over 50 years. Our mission is to lead, strengthen and amplify the voices of a dynamic cultural community that sparks creativity, inspires people, and plays a vital role in fostering the health and wellbeing of the region. Representing a diverse cultural ecosystem—including museums, visual artists, dance companies, community art centers, musicians, historic sites, zoos, and more—the Cultural Alliance is dedicated to being a thought leader, trusted resource, and powerful advocate for the Greater Philadelphia creative sector. We are committed to driving positive change and supporting the collective vision of our community. For more information, please visit philaculture.org.  

PA Humanities is an independent nonprofit and official federal-state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. They champion the humanities – and our shared humanity – as a means to build community, educate, inspire, and make change. For more information, visit pahumanities.org.  

The creative heart of Drexel University, the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design trains the next generation of scholars, thinkers, makers, and doers in the fields of media, entertainment, design, and the visual and performing arts. Westphal offers sixteen undergraduate and eight graduate majors, housed in award-winning facilities that encourage collaboration across creative disciplines. At Westphal, each program challenges students to reimagine the role of design, media and the arts, centering sustainability, access, and community in their approach to building a better future. Through experiential learning, studio-based curriculum, and Drexel’s widely-recognized Cooperative Education program (co-op), Westphal students are uniquely positioned to face the world’s challenges and define the creative careers of the 21st century. 

Creative Philadelphia provides creative and economic opportunities for all Philadelphians to thrive through the arts. We advance public access to arts and culture, collaborate with local creative communities, and celebrate the city’s cultural assets, contributing to a safer, cleaner, and greener city. For more information, visit phila.gov/arts and follow @CreativePHL on Facebook, X, and Instagram. 

Cultural Dynamics was made possible by the generous support of New Venture Fund, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, The Pew Charitable Trusts, the William Penn Foundation, and PA Humanities.