Advocacy Alert

Dear Arts Advocate,

We know that there is a lot happening at all levels of government, and it can be hard to keep up. Philadelphia City Council’s budget hearings will wrap up in the next two weeks, which will lead into budget negotiations between City Council and the Parker administration. Before our City leaders come to an agreement on the FY26 Budget, they need to hear from the cultural community about the importance of maintaining funding for the creative economy as our sector continues to navigate unprecedented cuts from the federal government. Before we get to the action, here are the updates you should know about city funding:

FY25 Transfer Ordinance

• Today, City Council passed a transfer ordinance bill appropriating $6.75 million for arts and culture entities.A transfer ordinance is an appropriations package negotiated between the Parker administration and City Council. These funding packages typically occur once or twice a year in the city’s fiscal year to cover expenses such as overtime.  The transfer ordinance will provide funding to arts and culture organizations in addition to allocations proposed in the Mayor’s FY26 budget.
• This funding confirms support for the new Sadie M. Alexander statue and another grant cycle for Illuminate the Arts. The application for Illuminate the Arts grants should open in Fall 2025. We are pleased to see the Parker administration make these investments in public art and grants to individual artists.
• This transfer ordinance also invests over $9 million in neighborhood arts and community organizations for 2026 celebrations. The Cultural Alliance is thrilled the city invested in Johnson House Historic Site, Blackstar Film Festival, Germantown Arts District, Philly250, Belmont Mansion, Theater in the X, Museum of the American Revolution, Eastern State Penitentiary, and others. We want to specifically thank Councilmember Isaiah Thomas for his leadership on necessary funding related to 2026 and inclusion of the cultural community in these discussions. As I testified at the November 2024 hearing, the time to invest in these neighborhood arts organizations is now. We appreciate Councilman Thomas’s efforts to ensure the creative community had a seat at the table in the hearings to discuss 2026 investments.

FY26 City Budget

• Next week, the City Council will continue departmental budget hearings to gather more details from city department leaders about their specific budgetary needs. After budget hearings conclude, the public has an opportunity to make their priorities known to the Parker administration and City Council.
• You can make your voice heard on the proposed FY26 city budget by providing public testimony at City Hall on Tuesday, May 13, and Wednesday, May 14.
• Speakers interested in making public testimony should call 215-686-3407 or email Budget.Hearings@phila.gov by 3 p.m. on the day prior to the public testimony session (Monday, May 12, or Tuesday, May 13) at which they wish to speak. You will need to submit the following information:
• Full name
• Callback telephone number where you can be reached
• Identify Bill No. 250196 (FY26 Operating Budget) & Bill No. 250197 (Capital Budget) that will be addressed in your testimony.
• Please note that waiting to give public testimony in person can make for a long day. You can make your voice heard digitally by emailing your written testimony to Budget.Hearings@Phila.gov or using the form on PHL Council’s Budget Center website.
• City Council must pass the FY26 Budget by June 30. This year, City Council’s last legislative session is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, meaning the budget is expected to be negotiated and passed two weeks before the deadline. Your advocacy in May is critical so the Mayor and City Council understand the cultural community’s priorities during budget negotiations.

Over the next two weeks, you will hear more from the Cultural Alliance about additional investments needed in our sector. The creative community must tell the Mayor and City Council about the continued need to provide stable, predictable funding to the city’s arts and culture portfolio.

We’ll continue to share timely updates and will highlight advocacy opportunities for the arts and culture community. Call, write, email, and testify to lend your voice to the chorus. Stay tuned for upcoming alerts on key city, state, and federal issues – your voice matters every step of the way.

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