2 major arts funders are shaping the future of the arts in Philadelphia

Unlocking the Arts: Pew and NEA Fuel Community Engagement Across the Region

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Empowering Communities Through the Arts

Pew's "Evolving Futures" Initiative Supports Collaborative Partnerships

The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage in Philadelphia has announced a new round of funding totaling .2 million, with a significant portion dedicated to helping arts organizations navigate the post-pandemic landscape. Dubbed "Evolving Futures," this initiative will distribute .5 million to nine organizations to assist them in charting their paths forward.A key focus of Pew's funding is on fostering partnerships between arts organizations. For instance, Opera Philadelphia has teamed up with the Apollo Theater in New York City to commission new operas that center the African American experience, building on their previous collaboration on the acclaimed "Charlie Parker's Yardbird." With 7,000 from Pew, Opera Philadelphia is now exploring similar collaborative opportunities beyond the operatic realm.The Wilma Theater, Pew's 0,000 grant recipient, is also exploring replicable models for collaboration, having previously worked with Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington, D.C. on productions like "My Mama and the Full-Scale Invasion" and the upcoming "Comeuppance." This emphasis on partnership-building underscores the importance of collective resilience in the face of the pandemic's disruptions.

NEA's ArtsHERE Initiative Empowers Underserved Communities

Alongside Pew's regional efforts, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has launched a new funding initiative called ArtsHERE, which aims to distribute million nationally to support programs that engage populations historically underserved by the arts sector. In line with President Biden's 2021 executive order to advance racial equity, ArtsHERE seeks to "strengthen organizations' capacity to sustain meaningful community engagement."Two organizations in the Philadelphia area have been awarded 7,000 each through the ArtsHERE program. The Philadelphia Folklore Project, based in West Philadelphia, will use the funding to implement a new "Community Curation" model, where community members will have a direct say in shaping the organization's programming priorities. Meanwhile, the Centro de Cultura Arte Trabajo y Educacion (CCATE) in Norristown, Pennsylvania, will expand its online magazine, Revarte, into a digital and print quarterly, giving voice to the Latino and Hispanic communities in Montgomery County.CCATE's director, Obed Arango, who immigrated from Mexico in 1999, emphasizes the importance of reclaiming the narrative around the immigrant experience. "Many of the stories that are told about the immigrant community have been denigrating us," he says. "It is time to claim back the authority to express it in a way that we can tell who we are, using art and community journalism."

Transforming Spaces and Expanding Reach

The Pew Center's funding is also supporting the transformation of various arts and cultural institutions across the region. The Barnes Foundation on the Parkway in Philadelphia will soon expand its operations to include the new Calder Gardens, a museum dedicated to the work of renowned artist Alexander Calder, expected to open in 2025. Pew is providing 0,000 to help facilitate this transition.Similarly, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is receiving 0,000 from Pew to explore how to optimize the use of its Samuel M.V. Hamilton building on North Broad Street. With the organization's decision to discontinue its degree-granting programs, this funding will help PAFA reimagine the building as an arts hub, potentially opening up collaborative opportunities with regional arts and cultural organizations.The Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia is also receiving 0,000 from Pew to determine how best to utilize its Vine Street building, while the Historic Germantown coalition will use its 2,800 grant to streamline and enhance its resource-sharing model among its member organizations.These investments in physical spaces and organizational infrastructure underscore the Pew Center's commitment to strengthening the region's arts ecosystem and fostering greater community engagement.

Celebrating the Nation's 250th Anniversary

Looking ahead to the 2026 semiquincentennial, the Pew Center is also funding several projects that aim to commemorate and reflect on the promise and challenges of American democracy. This includes supporting First Person Arts' development of a new piece by documentary theater artist Anna Deavere Smith, as well as the creation of a new orchestral and vocal work to be performed at the Mann Center in Fairmount Park, the site of the original Centennial of 1876.These forward-looking initiatives demonstrate the Pew Center's dedication to using the arts as a powerful tool for community engagement, cultural expression, and civic reflection. By empowering diverse voices and fostering collaborative partnerships, these funding programs are poised to have a lasting impact on the region's artistic and cultural landscape.