Following the Cultural Dynamics: Co-Creating a Vision for Philadelphia convening organized by the Cultural Alliance in November 2024, we're proud to announce the accompanying Community Conversations series in partnership with PA Humanities and Creative PHL. The Community Conversations will bring together a diverse group of cultural leaders, storytellers, artists, community members, business and government leaders, and local stakeholders to co-create a vision for a thriving, culturally rich future for the city. 

This series is designed to inform and shape a Cultural Plan for the city of Philadelphia with a focus on input from the arts, culture, and humanities community. The Cultural Plan is envisioned as a strategic framework for the city's arts and culture community, guided by a broad, inclusive mission to create a cleaner, greener, safer city with economic mobility for all.

Goals of the Community Conversations:  

• Collectively inform the Cultural Plan for the City of Philadelphia
• Identify trends and needs across Philadelphia’s arts and culture ecosystem and the neighborhoods they serve
• Create space for strong networks and greater collaboration between and among the creative and cultural sectors

Schedule

Each session includes 30 minutes for registration followed by a short arts and culture experience with 2-2.5 hours of Cultural Planning conversation followed by time for networking.

Saturday, March 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Held at the Kimmel Center (Hamilton Garden, 300 South Broad Street) in partnership with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts. Register. 

• 11:30 a.m. — Registration & Networking
• 12:00 p.m. — Panel featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin (Music & Artistic Director, Philadelphia Orchestra), Dyana Williams (radio and music professional), and Justin Faulkner (drummer, educator, and philanthropist).
• 1:00 p.m. — Community Conversation begins
• 3:00 p.m.  — Community Conversation ends  
• 3:05 p.m. — Networking

Saturday, March 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Held at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania (118 S 36th Street). Register.

• 11:30 a.m. — Registration adn networking
• 12:00 p.m. — Guided Tour of the new exhibit: Carl Cheng: Nature Never Loses
• 12:30 p.m. — Community Conversation begins
• 2:30 p.m. — Community Conversation ends
• 2:35 p.m. — Networking

Thursday, March 20 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Held at the Center for Anti-Racism at Temple University (1114 W. Polett Walk, 140 Mazur Hall) in partnership with the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection and Center for Anti-Racism. Register.

• 5:00 p.m. — Registration and networking
• 5:30 p.m. — Community Conversation begins
• 7:30 p.m.  — Community Conversation ends
• 7:35 p.m. — Networking

Monday March 31 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Held at FringeArts (140 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard). Register.

• 5:00 p.m. — Registration and networking
• 5:30 p.m. — Community Conversation begins
• 7:30 p.m. — Community Conversation ends
• 7:35 p.m. — Networking

The Community Conversations are made possible by the generous support of The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Community Conversations are produced in partnership with PA Humanities and Creative Philadelphia

Questions? Please contact Alex Freeman at alex@wittygritty.com