PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A new study about arts and culture in Pennsylvania shows promising strides, but with nervous optimism about funding.
The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, in partnership with PA Humanities, has released its annual CultureCheck, a statewide report about the progress of cultural, arts and humanities organizations. It indicates those communities have been recovering well from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are very, very pleased to report that 72% of the organizations that participated in the survey are back to normal or increased operations,” said Patricia Wilson Aden, president and CEO of the Cultural Alliance. “That means their day to day ability to fulfill their mission, to offer their programs, are on a really positive track of recovery.”
The study said only 14% of Pennsylvania’s cultural organizations still operate at limited capacity and that 95% of respondents have partnered with community groups.
“What's interesting is that these organizations, I think, are responding to the moment. We're seeing particular growth in partnerships and programming in the area of mental health, social justice [and] returning citizens.”
While data for the study was being collected, the Trump administration issued a series of executive orders defunding arts and culture programs. Wilson Aden says 97% of the organizations in Southeastern Pennsylvania that responded said they would be impacted by the cuts and 62% of organizations reported that their programs were at risk.
“Impacting cash flow and payroll that goes to the very ability of these organizations to function, to be able to hire and pay the talent, people that are part of our creative ecosystem. They might be postponing or canceling programs,” she said.
“It seems to be a very worrisome contradiction in that the good work that we are undertaking is being undermined by these federal cuts, just as the sector is recovering and providing those essential services to communities.”
Wilson Aden said the hope is that arts organizations can link with elected officials and members of the philanthropic community to ensure that they can continue to provide essential services to our community. Some programs will scale back and some may end, but she believes that these cultural organizations are creative and will strive to do more with less.