Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Program

Article June 1, 2014 Read time:

The Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Program was introduced in 1997 to stimulate leadership and encourage best practices within the cultural community through multi-year, unrestricted grants to organizations. Today the groups that succeeded consistently in winning that support are regarded as leaders in the field, and their artistic excellence has contributed considerably to Philadelphia's growing reputation as a thriving cultural center. (See complete list.)

The program will be phased out by the end of 2015 as part of Pew’s Culture program restructuring. (Read the related press release here.) Pew will honor all existing commitments through that period, and complete the final two rounds of the three-year grant cycle that began in 2012. The 2013 applicants will be presented to the Pew board in June 2013, as previously scheduled; 2014 applicants will be presented in December 2013, with the application process starting in May. Applications for December 2013 will be accepted by invitation only.

While the Leadership Program will end, Pew recognizes the importance of unrestricted operating support to arts organizations. Going forward, we will simplify the mechanism by which we provide operating support and reduce the cost of doing so by tying such support to the project grants awarded by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. Beginning in 2014, the Center will add 20 percent to each project grant award. For example, an organization that receives a $300,000 grant to support a performance or exhibition will receive an additional $60,000 to cover general operating expenses.

For more information on the Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Program, contact Doug Bohr at 215.575.4808.

Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC. First Friday at the Clay Studio in Old City, Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Grantees

(As of June 2013)

Arden Theatre Company

Art Reach

Asian Arts Initiative

Bucks County Historical Society

Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts

The Franklin Institute

Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

John J. Tyler Arboretum