January 2026
Happy New Year! As we kick off 2026, this issue is packed with advocacy wins, funding opportunities, and ways to get involved across Greater Philadelphia’s arts and culture sector. From major public funding victories and new grant openings to internships, preservation resources, and member updates, we’re starting the year informed, connected, and energized. Let’s dive in.
The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society is celebrating 40 years of bringing world-class chamber music to our region. With 1,800+ concerts and more than 125 world premieres since 1986, PCMS shows what’s possible when arts organizations grow, connect, and thrive together as members of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.
Be part of our community today! Join or renew your Cultural Alliance membership and help uplift the arts, culture, and humanities across Greater Philadelphia.
Arts & Culture in the News
- Despite earlier DOGE cuts, Philadelphia area arts and cultural groups receive $3 million in new NEH grants. Read more from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- The U.S. House votes to fund the arts, despite President Trump’s threats. Read more from Hyperallergic.
- Jeffrey Rosen has stepped down as President and CEO of the National Constitution Center. Read more from WHYY.
- The Smithsonian Institution has turned over internal materials on programming and operations to the White House. Read more from Art News.
- An innovative new pass offers theater-goers a chance to see a Pulitizer-prize winning playwright’s three plays across Philadelphia. Read more from Billy Penn.
- A new study finds that seeing art is good for your nervous system. Read more from Hyperallergic.
- Philadelphia will host a five-week long arts festival as part of America 250. Read more from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Updates from the Cultural Alliance
U.S. House Passes FY2026 Appropriations with $207 Million Each for NEA & NEH
On January 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an FY26 appropriations package with strong bipartisan support, including full funding of $207 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)—with no cuts. Passage of the funding bill with bi-partisan support affirms the power of grassroots advocacy. House members reportedly received over 18,000 messages and hundreds of office visits from arts advocates across the country. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate, with action expected soon, followed by the President’s signature. At this time, no major obstacles are anticipated.
The Cultural Alliance will continue to share updates on federal, state, and local legislation. Stay connected through CultureWire and be sure to sign up for our Advocacy Alerts to remain engaged in our advocacy efforts.
Announcing the Recipients of the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Flex Fund
The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is pleased to announce the 2025–2026 awardees of the Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF), a program of PA Creative Industries powered by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In its third and final funding round, CSFF awarded $400,000 in flexible operating support to 80 small arts and culture organizations across Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties.
As PA Creative Industries launches a new strategic framework, CSFF will sunset after FY26 and will be replaced by the Creative Asset Program, which according to PA Creative Industries, will offer direct, flexible support for small-to-mid-sized organizations statewide. Grave concerns have been expressed, however, about the cascading impact of changes to the grant program’s funding criteria, particularly for organizations with budgets under $100,000.
The Cultural Alliance has pushed PA Creative Industries to clarify its decisions and is actively working with a growing statewide coalition to respond. We celebrate the vital work happening across Greater Philadelphia’s cultural sector and will share updates on this evolving issue.
Get Involved: Become a Summer Arts Internship Worksite
Philadelphia arts and culture organizations are invited to apply to serve as a Summer Arts Internship worksite for Summer 2026. Host a motivated high school junior for the eight-week program (June 20–August 15) and receive intern wages and programmatic support provided by the Cultural Alliance, along with a generous worksite stipend paid per intern. Applications are open through March 30, 2026. Learn more and apply to help shape the next generation of arts leaders.
Funding Opportunity: Mid-Atlantic Arts Folk & Traditional Arts Community Project Grants Now Open
Mid Atlantic Arts is now accepting applications for the 2026–2027 Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Grants, supporting projects that celebrate and sustain traditional arts and cultural practices across the region. Nonprofit organizations in DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, PR, USVI, VA, and WV may apply for grants ranging from $1,000–$5,000 with a required 1:1 match. Funded projects may include performances, exhibitions, workshops, fieldwork, documentation, public art collaborations, and the creation of new traditional work.
Applications opened January 7, 2026, and are due April 30, 2026.Learn more and apply here.
Funding Opportunity: New Jersey Historic Preservation Grants Now Open
Planning a preservation, interpretation, or place-based storytelling project in New Jersey? Applications for NJ Historic Preservation grants are now open. A free Zoom workshop on January 29 will walk prospective applicants through funding opportunities, eligibility, and the application process. Grants support a wide range of projects, including planning, heritage tourism, exhibits, and other efforts tied to historic sites and cultural history.
If you’re considering applying, now is a great time to refine your project idea and prepare. Register for the workshop and explore program details through the NJ Historic Trust to get started.
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t forget we offer our members great pricing on our available marketing products. Our monthly CultureWire newsletter has over 5,000 subscribers and our Job Bank attracts over 70,000 pageviews per month, so what are you waiting for? Work with the Cultural Alliance to promote your upcoming show, program, or just to remind the sector who you are. For more information on how you can utilize our Marketing Services and Advertising Options, please reach out to Madeline Avarese, Membership Associate, at madelinea@philaculture.org.
By the Numbers
In 2025, the Cultural Alliance stepped up advocacy at a critical moment for the arts. As federal funding threats rippled to the state and local level, we took action—engaging policymakers, building coalitions, and activating our community to protect and grow cultural investment.
We mobilized over members and allies in a powerful letter-writing campaign to help secure city investment in the arts with City of Philadelphia’s FY26 budget, including expanded support for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Mural Arts, neighborhood-based cultural initiatives, and key city-owned assets. Learn more about these wins and our full advocacy impact via our FY25 Annual Report.
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.
- Congregational Administrator at the Unitarian Society of Germantown
- Digital Marketing Associate at the Philadelphia Film Society
- Creative Content Manager at Moore College of Art & Design
- Call for Members: Education Advisory Council (Volunteer) with DiasporaDNA Story Center
- Director of Production at BalletX
- Senior Accountant with the Museum of American Revolution
- Director of Development and Communications Manager at the American Philosophical Society
- Summer Arts Internship Coordinator with the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
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.
