The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, also known as the Cultural Alliance, today announced its 2023 Mayoral Policy Platform in advance of the election of the 100th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia in November. Advocating that the arts matter in Philadelphia and serve as a driving force in voter turnout, the Cultural Alliance’s policy platform is rooted in the fundamental belief that arts and culture  in Philadelphia are an undervalued and underleveraged asset that deserve greater public investment.

“Arts and Culture cannot be an afterthought or low on the list of priorities for the City of Philadelphia’s next Mayor,” said Patricia Wilson Aden, president & CEO of Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. “This industry is an essential economic driver and a creative problem solver, addressing some of the City’s most challenging social issues, including gun violence, education, and workforce development. Philadelphia needs a courageous, decisive leader who will proudly champion our diverse arts and culture organizations, artists, and entrepreneurs, while harnessing the power of the industry’s collective voice as a key constituency at their decision-making table.”

According to a press release from the Cultural Alliance, the City’s arts and culture industry continues to make Philadelphia a more vibrant city, creating more than $3.4 billion in economic impact (pre-pandemic), including generating 37,590 jobs and $81 million in annual tax revenue. The Cultural Alliance is proud to present its policy platform in partnership with arts organizations across Philadelphia, working  with the Philadelphia Cultural Task Force, Philly Culture United, and other community partners and leaders to articulate the arts priorities presented in the platform. 

To foster the growth and development of this critical industry, the Cultural Alliance calls on the next mayor of Philadelphia to:

• Establish a permanent Department of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy for the City, which will be led at the Cabinet level by a highly qualified, forward-looking, and influential leader.
• Pursue innovative strategies – beyond the imposition of a new tax – to ensure robust funding for the entire arts sector and consistent support for the Department of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and arts programs/organizations affiliated with the City of Philadelphia.
• Develop an integrated arts plan, rooted in economic, workforce, entrepreneurial, and community development strategies, that will be implemented across City agencies/departments to stimulate economic recovery, enhance urban livability, and reshape the vitality of Philadelphia.
• Prioritize policies and programs that recognize the artistic capital generated by artists, performers, creative entrepreneurs, and other creatives and allow them to thrive in Philadelphia.
• Showcase Philadelphia’s arts and cultural assets in our 250th Anniversary celebrations by supporting a brand-building campaign, establishing Philadelphia as a global hub for arts and culture in 2026 and beyond.
   

To further the conversation around these priorities and the City’s broader arts policy, the Cultural Alliance will host a PHL Arts and Culture Mayoral Forum on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Taller Puertorriqueño, in partnership with AL DÍA, WHYY and WURD. Part of the Lenfest Institute’s Every Voice, Every Vote initiative, the event will bring Philadelphia's mayoral candidates together to discuss the issues facing the City's arts and culture sector. The event will begin at 5:30pm with performances and interactive activities from local arts organizations including Committee of Seventy, League of Women Voters, Mural Arts Philadelphia, PhillyCAM, Spiral Q and Taller Puertorriqueño. Following the art activations, a moderated discussion with Mayoral Candidates will take place at 6:30 pm. The discussion with candidates will be moderated by AL DÍA Senior Editor Nemesis Mora, The Philadelphia Inquirer Senior Editor for Communities and Engagement Sabrina Vourvoulias, WHYY Arts & Culture Reporter Peter Crimmins, and WURD Radio Creative & Production Director Tiffany Bacon. 

Registration to the forum is free, but required and can be found here. AARP is the feature sponsor of this event and additional in-kind support will be provided by Tolsma Productions. In advance of the Forum, the Cultural Alliance, community partners and additional supporting partners, including Carpenters Company and Asian Arts Initiative, are inviting the community to take a survey (linked here) to help inform the Forum discussion.

Follow and engage in the continued conversation surrounding the March 30 PHL Arts and Culture Mayoral Forum on social media at #ArtsMayor4Philly and on the Cultural Alliance’s social media channels at @philaculture on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.