Make Your Voice Heard:

Bring Your Arts & Culture Questions to Philadelphia's Budget Town Halls

Dear Arts Advocate,

The City of Philadelphia's Mayor Office and City Council are bringing FY2027's Budget directly to our neighborhoods—and this is your moment to be heard.

Throughout April and May, the Mayor's Office and City Council will host community budget town halls to gather public input on the proposed $6.97 billion FY2027 Budget, which includes key investments in arts and culture, public safety, neighborhood services, and economic opportunity. These sessions are a critical opportunity to ensure that arts and culture remain a priority in how our city invests in its future.

Philadelphia’s creative sector contributes over $3 billion to our local economy, supporting jobs, enhancing neighborhoods, and providing educational opportunities for young people. Now more than ever—amid uncertainty in state and federal funding—we must advocate for strong, sustained local investment.

We encourage you to attend a town hall, raise your voice, and ask questions that matter to our sector.

Questions to Ask:

Philadelphia's creative sector contributes over $3 billion to the region's economy, preserving the cultural identity and enhances the social cohesion of our neighborhoods, and boosts the educational attainment of young people. Investments in Creative Philadelphia, along with Mural Arts, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Highmark Mann Center, the Please Touch Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Dell Music Center and other arts-related organizations will be critical to Philadelphia's arts ecosystem. How will the City’s budget reflect the creative sector’s economic impact and its role in strengthening our communities?
Mayor Parker has proposed a $2.5 million ($500,000 per year for five years) to support the execution of Philadelphia's first cultural plan. Do you support the multiyear commitment to the cultural plan?
With federal and state cuts to arts funding, the objective, peer-reviewed support provided by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF) is more critical than ever to sustain our city’s cultural organizations. Last year’s $5 million allocation provided essential operating support to Philadelphia arts and culture organizations—but Mayor Parker’s FY27 budget proposes a reduction to $3.5 million. Maintaining the full $5 million investment is key to ensuring stability across the sector. What is your proposed investment in the Philadelphia Cultural Fund?
Philadelphia's creative workers and creative economy fuel vitality throughout the entire city. Investments in Philadelphia's night-time economy, our music industry, creative entrepreneurs and other components of the creative economy offer the potential of even greater impact. How will you help ensure that the City of Philadelphia—across City agencies—supports creative workers and encourages the growth of our creative economy?

Upcoming Mayor & City Council Budget Town Halls Schedule:

Monday, April 20 | 6:00–8:30 PM (Mayor’s Office Town Hall)

Imhotep Charter School, 6201 N 21st Street

Tuesday, April 21 | 6:00–7:30 PM (City Council Town Hall)

Julia De Burgos Elementary School, 401 W Lehigh Ave

Thursday, April 23 | 6:00–8:30 PM (Mayor’s Office Town Hall)

John F. Street Community Center, 1100 Poplar Street

Tuesday, April 28 | 6:00–7:30 PM (City Council Town Hall)

Upper Room Baptist Church, 7236 Ogontz Avenue

Thursday, April 30 | 6:00–7:30 PM (City Council Town Hall)

Mummers Museum, 1100 South 2nd Street

Tuesday, May 5 | 6:00–7:30 PM (City Council Town Hall)

Salt & Light Church, 5736 Chester Avenue

Tuesday, May 5 | 6:00–8:30 PM (Mayor’s Office Town Hall)

Taller Puertorriqueno, Inc, 2600 N 5th Street

Thursday, May 7 | 6:00–8:30 PM (Mayor’s Office Town Hall)

Discovery Charter School, 4700 Parkside Avenue

Tuesday, May 12 | 6:00–8:30 PM (Mayor’s Office Town Hall)

Thomas Holme Elementary School, 9125 Academy Road

Thursday, May 14 | 6:00–8:30 PM (Mayor’s Office Town Hall)

St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, 535 Rhawn Street

Thursday, May 21| 6:00–8:30 PM (Mayor’s Office Town Hall)

Victory Christian Center, 5220 Whitby Avenue

Thursday, May 28 | 6:00–8:30 PM (Mayor’s Office Town Hall)

Cohocksink Recreation Center, 2901 Cedar Street

To see the full schedule of budget hearings, as well as details of the proposed FY2027 Budget, please visit here.

These town halls are more than meetings—they are a chance to shape the future of arts and culture in Philadelphia. Show up. Speak out. Make sure the arts are part of the conversation. The Cultural Alliance will continue to share updates as more details regarding the City's FY2027 Budget—stay engaged by subscribing to Advocacy Alerts and CultureWire.

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