Advocacy Alert

Dear Arts Advocate,

As we continue to navigate national uncertainty, I’m pleased to share exciting news about the City of Philadelphia’s FY26 Budget passed by City Council. Your advocacy efforts helped secure the following investments:

• The Philadelphia Cultural Fund was appropriated $5 million to support Arts & Culture grantees. That’s a $1.5 million increase from its proposed funding this year. We would like to extend a special thanks to Councilmember Rue Landau for championing this funding, as so many local organizations are experiencing the serious impact of federal funding cuts. Join the Cultural Fund’s mailing list to receive updates on when the next grant cycle is open to applications. 
• Mural Arts Philadelphia’s core programs will be sustained with a $5.2 million allocation that will help fund programs, such as Restorative Justice, Tacony Lab, and Community Murals, which employ artists and beautify our city.
• Several city-owned assets and institutions will receive capital support to maintain and operate city-owned architectural treasures.

• The City must strategically invest in Creative Philadelphia (formerly the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy) to support the operational needs of our city’s arts and culture office. The level of the city’s investment in Creative Philadelphia signals our sector’s value within City Hall. The Parker administration and City Council must do more so that this office can achieve the creative community’s core priorities, such as the city’s first-ever Cultural Plan.
• We urge the City of Philadelphia to work with the cultural sector, civic leaders and the philanthropic community to identify a mechanism to support a permanent dedicated arts fund that, coupled with the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and other current resources, will extend the availability of meaningful operational resources to cultural organizations of every budget size and artistic discipline.

This budget does provide the creative economy a moment to celebrate, but it should also renew our North Star priorities to establish a dedicated fund for equitable operational support across the City of Philadelphia and elevate Creative Philadelphia from an office to a department with the robust resources to unlock Philadelphia’s creative potential across all city agencies.

Thank you for being our partner in this work. We still have work to do. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s budget is in the beginning stages of negotiations. We will keep you informed every step of the way.

Sincerely,

Patricia Wilson Aden
President & CEO 
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance 

Please note: Our office has moved a few floors up in the Philadelphia Building (1315 Walnut Street). Please note our new mailing address: