Meet 2009's Otis Morse Advocacy Scholars!

Over the past four years, the Otis Morse Advocacy Scholarship has supported nine Philadelphia-area residents in meeting with their elected officials and making the case for federal support of arts and culture.  The scholarship provides attendees with an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC for the National Arts Action Summit (sponsored by Americans for the Arts), and gives them a valuable experience in making the case for the arts on Capitol Hill with Philadelphia-area legislators.

This year, the Otis Morse Advocacy Scholarship sponsored John Wooten, Executive Director of the Chester Fine Arts Center East; and Alex Styer, Director of Programs at the Philadelphia Art Alliance.

John, a native Philadelphian and Temple graduate, brings to the Chester Fine Arts Center East a diverse resume of experience in both arts and business.  In addition to his duties at CFACE - introducing children and adults to the arts through formal instruction, strengthening arts appreciation, and providing an affordable forum for presentation in Chester - he is a member of AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), SAG (Screen Actors Guild), and played a recent role as Basket Coach in the Fox/Warner Pilot Past Life, scheduled to air in Fall 2009.  John holds true to his mantra - "To create and express, what’s life without that?" - as he continues to promote and advocate the arts throughout his life and his work.

Alex is charged with the planning and implementation of over fifty literary and performance events each year in the galleries of the Philadelphia Art Alliance, as well as overseeing an outreach program that visits at least two Philadelphia Public Schools each year.  Prior to joining the Art Alliance, Alex served as Director of Events for MilkBoy Coffee on the Main Line.  A classically trained trumpet player, Mr. Styer is a 2006 graduate of Drexel University, where he graduated, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry Studies.

The work of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is made possible through the generous support of committed individuals and institutions.