The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Calls on City Council to Reinstate $2M City Budget Increase to Support Philadelphia Cultural Fund at $5.5M 

Stable funding to allow more grant opportunities, develop community programming and promote more cross-sector collaboration 

June 2, 2023 (Philadelphia) – The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (“the Cultural Alliance”) is calling on Philadelphia City Council to support the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (“PCF”) at $5.5M, which is currently proposed as $3.5M in the FY24 Budget. Following Philadelphia City Council’s decision to allocate an additional $2M to PCF in the FY23 Mid-Year Transfer, the Cultural Alliance is requesting City Council to reinstate $2M to its FY24 Budget to provide the stability the Arts & Culture Sector needs to help Philadelphia thrive. 

“We cannot go back – and we will not stand silently by as the City underfunds and overlooks arts and culture in Philadelphia,” said Patricia Wilson Aden, President & CEO, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. “We urge the City to take a step forward and provide the stability our arts organizations need to thrive by funding PCF at $5.5M. Our sector has contributed significantly to Philadelphia’s economy with $3.4B in economic impact, and the proposed budget underscores the lackluster commitment to the arts.” 

“The arts and culture sector is a vibrant pulse that keeps Philadelphia learning, connecting, and growing together. Our programs and initiatives take place in schools, libraries, parks, recreation centers, public spaces, organizations, businesses, and throughout all the streets of Philadelphia's diverse neighborhoods and barrios. We are part of the city’s DNA,” said Gabriela Sanchez, Executive Director, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund. “This budget and budgets presented in the future should reflect a more equitable, sustainable and healthy arts and culture sector. We need our City Council members and our Mayor to be our allies and champions in this work towards amplifying that we are an arts and culture destination reaching people nationwide. Philadelphia is a global treasure and part of our history is rooted in arts and culture – and we must never forget." 

Established in 1991 as an independent, community-focused non-profit and grant-making organization, PCF works to enhance the cultural life and vitality of the City of Philadelphia and its residents. Its operational structure enhances the integrity of the grant-making process and ensures continuity across mayoral administrations in terms of PCF-grantee relationships and funding practices. Grants are made from a City budget allocation to PCF and provide operating support for Philadelphia-based arts and culture organizations dedicated to creating, preserving and/or exhibiting visual, literary and performing arts, architecture, science, history and the humanities. Substantially all funding for PCF comes from the City of Philadelphia.

In 2021 and 2022, funding to PCF was drastically reduced. However, in December 2022, the cultural community widely applauded Philadelphia City Council’s bold decision to allocate an additional $2 million dollars to PCF in the Mid-Year Transfer, increasing PCF’s FY23 budget from $3.5 to $5.5 million. The allocation represented an investment in Philadelphia’s cultural sector, providing a much-needed infusion of funds as arts and culture organizations across the city struggled to rebound from pandemic. Reinstating the $2M commitment to the arts by increasing the PCF’s FY24 budget to $5.5M will ensure the stability of hundreds of cultural organizations that contribute to the cultural vitality that defines the city of Philadelphia. 

To learn more about the Cultural Alliances’s advocacy efforts, please visit philaculture.org/fundphlarts23. Follow its efforts on social media with #FundPHLArts and on the Cultural Alliance’s social media channels at @philaculture on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  

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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 philaculture.org.