May 2024

ByGreater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

The Curtis Institute of Music, a Cultural Alliance Member, is celebrating their historic 100th anniversary with their 2024-2025 season, Great to Groundbreaking. Learn more. Photo by Micah Gleason.

Arts & Culture in the News

  • Philly’s arts and culture scene is still a ‘powerhouse,’ but pandemic recovery remains uneven, writes Peter Crimmins for WHYY using data from the Cultural Alliance’s latest Arts, Culture & Economic Prosperity report.

  • Last month, The Pew Charitable Trusts launched the latest “State of the City” report for Philadelphia, which provides important context for the arts and culture organizations working here. The report reflects the city’s dynamism and growth but underscores our persistent problems. Read the full report.

  • The latest “Theatre Facts” report from Theatre Communications Group indicates that not-for-profit theatres contributed $2.3 billion to the U.S. economy and attracted 10 million audience members in 2022, but continue to face challenges as a result of the continued impact of the pandemic. Read more. 

  • A new study from SMU DataArts reports that as pandemic-response relief funding dwindles, arts and culture organizations are seeking new and alternative sources of revenue. Read more. 

  • The UK’s creative industries bring in more revenue than cars, oil and gas – so why is arts education facing cuts? “By the government’s own estimates, the creative industries contribute around £126 billion to the UK economy” writes Adam Behr in The Conversation. “If funding cuts degrade provision for creative subjects, the effects will be felt beyond the departments immediately affected.” 

Updates from the Cultural Alliance

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The latest Arts, Culture & Economic Prosperity results are here! This is a study of the economic and social impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Greater Philadelphia that is conducted every five years. Key findings from the latest report include:

  • The $3.3 billion economic impact of our cultural organizations and their audiences.
  • $429 million in tax revenue generated by the arts at the local, state, and federal levels.
  • 13.5 million people attended in-person cultural sites and events in fiscal year 2022.

Read the full report here. 

 

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Just announced: the 2024-2025 Creative Sector Flex Fund grant will open on June 3, 2024. This $5,000 grant, funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, provides support to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide consistent artistic programming and services in Pennsylvania and have an annual average arts revenue of $10,000 to $200,000. Join us for a Virtual Information Session on May 30 (register) or June 5 (register) and learn more about the Creative Sector Flex Fund here. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Ballet Company, a 2023-2024 Flex Fund awardee.

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Save the date! Current and prospective Cultural Alliance members are invited to join us for upcoming online and in-person Information Sessions. Tailored to different geographic regions, these sessions are designed to help organizations make the most of their membership and connect directly with Cultural Alliance staff. 

  • Bucks and Chester County on June 20 at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom (register)
  • Montgomery County on June 27 at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom (register)
  • Delaware County on July 11 at 3:30 p.m. at Darlington Arts Center (register)
  • Philadelphia County on July 18 at 4:00 p.m. at CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia (register)

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Spring into Advertising Sale: Now through May 17, book a premium ad package and receive up to $1,300 in Cultural Alliance marketing products for just $450! The package includes advertising space in CultureWire (this newsletter!), the Job Bank, and our weekly Funsavers email. Learn more. 

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Arts and Culture by the Numbers

Our latest research in Arts, Culture & Economic Prosperity illustrates that Greater Philadelphia’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is slowly recovering after being greatly affected by the pandemic and ongoing inflation. One of the major findings is that the total economic impact of the region’s nonprofit arts and culture industry is $3.3 billion. See the full report here. 

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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.

SEE MORE ON THE JOB BANK

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.

Partner Messages 

All eyes will be on Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, as the nation marks its 250th anniversary in 2026. Arts and culture organizations are invited to submit their programs and events to Philadelphia 250’s Community Calendar. 

Stay connected to the Cultural Alliance! Subscribe to CultureWire for a monthly update on the forces, factors, and faces shaping arts and culture in Greater Philadelphia. 

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