Artblog | office of arts culture and the creative economy

December 29, 2022 by Roberta and Julia Marsh

Liberta Awards 2022

Wow, 2023. Whatever happens, let this new year be better than 2022, 2021, 2020. We remain optimistic!

June 30, 2022 by Roberta

New Ruth Arts Foundation awards grants to five Philadelphia arts groups, Tom Devaney’s ‘Bicentennial City’ on WHYY-TV, Plus a video on gun violence panel, and help Philadelphia’s search for the right Harriet Tubman memorial

It’s summer! But there’s still news, even in the art world. A new foundation, The Ruth Foundation for the Arts (Ruth Arts), today awarded $1.25 to 78 nonprofit arts organizations nominated for the grants. We congratulate the 5 local groups chosen for the new grants: Ballet X, Blackstar Projects, Taller Puertorriqueño, Twelve Gates and The Clay Studio. In other news, two videos we recommend for this hot weekend, and a call from the city for citizen participation in shaping the choice for the new public art Harriet Tubman statue.

April 28, 2022 by Roberta

Rally for the Arts! Citizens to envision new use of Roundhouse, Melissa Lucio documentary, and two opportunities

We want to encourage you to turn out for the Rally for the Arts on Wednesday, May 11 at 11:30 – 1:30 at City Hall. The Mayor’s budget cuts enacted over the last two years and proposed for 2023 demonstrate the Mayor’s lack of understanding of the importance of the arts. Rally for more funding for the arts in the city budget! In other news, Amber Arts and Design and Connect the Dots will help citizens engage with the police HQ, the Roundhouse, and how best to treat the building going forward when the police move. Plus opportunities, including a big-budget Percent for Art project for PHL International! Finally, we urge you to watch a documentary on Melissa Lucio, whose execution has been stayed by a Texas court.

March 29, 2021 by Artblog

The Philadelphia Cultural Fund’s Barbara Silzle on the proposed $1.3M Illuminate the Arts initiative

Barbara Silzle, Executive Director of The Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF), provides context about the management of the proposed $1.3M Illuminate the Arts initiative, as well as a transcript of her testimony at City Council on March 18, 2021, in which she advocates for reinstating PCF’s budget in FY22.

March 19, 2021 by Morgan Nitz and Roberta

The Philadelphia Cultural Fund should manage the new $1.3 Million fund for the arts

Morgan and Roberta write an editorial voicing their concerns, and those of community members, about the new $1.3 million arts funding initiative and say it should be handled by the existing and reputable PCF.

February 26, 2021 by Morgan Nitz and Roberta

Do you value the arts? Voice your opinion NOW on Philadelphia’s FY21-22 budget

This Sunday, February 28, is the last day that you can fill out the city’s questionnaire about Philadelphia’s FY21-22 budget. Make your voice heard today– find the link to the survey in this post!

May 29, 2020 by Artblog

Strong testimony at City Council hearing May 27 to reinstate funding for arts and culture

Artblog rounded up some testimonies given to City Council on May 27 by artists, arts workers and arts organization leaders and presents them here for the record, a stream of passionate and well-formed arguments to save OACCE and PCF.

May 18, 2020 by Artblog

Save the arts, restore OACCE and PCF, Part 3, testimonials by Julia Guerrero, Neil Kleinman, Steven Burns

Artblog solicited testimonials about the proposed cuts to the city budget that would axe the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF).