CultureWire
CultureWire is the Alliance's blog for arts & culture news, resources, opportunities and more. Get the best of CultureWire in your inbox quarterly by opting in to receive newsletters in your philaculture account settings.
CultureWire is the Alliance's blog for arts & culture news, resources, opportunities and more. Get the best of CultureWire in your inbox quarterly by opting in to receive newsletters in your philaculture account settings.
Member Spotlight
We Are the Seeds of CultureTrust is committed to amplifying Indigenous voices through the arts. The organization was founded by a team of Indigenous women who are dedicated to honoring Native arts and cultures as a means to understanding Indigenous peoples, the history of (what is now called) the United States, and who we all are as American people today. We Are the Seeds produces cultural events that feature Indigenous fine art, music, dance, fashion, literary, and culinary art. Additionally, Seeds hosts interactive art programs that focus on educating and empowering the youth.
Meet An Alliancer: Faith Applegate
Ever wondered what it's like to work at the Cultural Alliance? We'll introduce you to members of our staff! This month the spotlight is on Faith Applegate, our Bloomberg Arts Internship Alumni Ambassador and Communications Intern!
Member Spotlight
One might think that remaining closed during the pandemic would mean quiet months. But for the team at Please Touch Museum (PTM), it’s been exactly the opposite. There is a ton of action behind-the-scenes as its team works to “Create the Future of Play” for the children of Philadelphia and beyond. With an eye toward reopening in 2021, PTM is reimagining much of its lower level in historic Memorial Hall with a new gallery, a forthcoming Makerspace and a total reinvention of its most beloved exhibit, The Market. Read about just a few of the exciting projects that families can look forward to in 2021.
Our Journey towards Accessibility and Diversity: The Accessibility and Diversity Initiative
The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance has been working towards making our sector more accessible, diverse, equitable and inclusive. We started with an internal assessment of our organization in 2016 and created an affinity group to explore Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues in our sector.
September 2020 DEI Update
This summer, the Cultural Alliance has continued to follow through on our recommitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work made in our Arts & Culture for Racial Justice statement in early June. On July 13 and 27, the Cultural Alliance hosted two happy hour events for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) members of the arts and culture community in Greater Philadelphia. In August, we facilitated an Anti-Racism Conversation for White Arts Administrators to begin the individual and internal work required to dismantle systemic racism in our sector.
Member Spotlight
It goes without saying that this is a challenging time for those of dedicated to the live performing arts. At People’s Light, a professional Regional Theatre located in Malvern, PA, their hearts are missing that frisson of live connection. However, they continue to be driven by their commitment to make theatre in a larger sense. In their mission, People’s Light identifies itself as a cultural and civic center with theatre at its core. Positioned in this way, theatre is the stuff we can create, but also a way of generating space for ongoing civic engagement and dialogue with and for our communities. So while they can’t safely produce plays in this moment, their charge to use artistry and creativity for ongoing civic and community engagement remains. In this article, they offer ways that they have continued to make theatre at People’s Light since the pandemic has taken hold.
2020 Bloomberg Arts Internship Comes to a Close
This summer, for the sixth year, the Cultural Alliance paired 30 incredible Philadelphia high school students with member organizations across the city for a Bloomberg Arts Internship program like none other. Using tools like Zoom, Slack, and a social networking platform called Open Social, interns participated in dozens of hours of professional development, college readiness, and cultural immersion activities.
Meet an Alliancer: Hanifah Jones
Ever wondered what it's like to work at the Cultural Alliance? We'll introduce you to members of our staff! This month the spotlight is on Hanifah Jones, our social media assistant!
Job Title: Social Media Assistant
Job Responsibilities: Assisting the strategic communications manager.
Degrees/certificates: B.A. in Digital Multimedia Journalism from Susquehanna University
Member Spotlight
Standing on the shoulders of elders who fought for women’s rights, ANNA Crusis is furthering feminism and music to incite social change into the future. The longest-running feminist women’s choir in the United States, founded in 1975, ANNA’s current membership embraces diversity of age, ethnicity and gender identity. Their musical repertoire reflects the rich spectrum of human lives and struggles, shedding light on issues facing immigrants and refugees, young people, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and others. ANNA self-produces two major concerts each year and performs many community outreach programs throughout the season such as benefits, rallies, LGBTQ+ community events, prisons and shelters — anywhere that music can bring a sense of hope and empowerment. ANNA is also a founding member of Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) and a member of Sister Singers Network, a cooperative web of feminist ensembles and musicians working together to support and enrich the women’s choral movement.
Creative Placemaking Leaders to Meet in Philadelphia
