It was a surprise and a joy to learn that City Council wanted to honor BSR with a citation earlier this year. We appreciate our donors who support our work, too. This September we embark on a new season of Fringe and other fall coverage. Will you become a Friend of BSR or a Local Media Champion today with a financial contribution? All new Friends are invited to a happy hour with BSR writers, staff, and other community partners this September.
Here's what City Council formally declared:
Honoring Broad Street Review In Recognition of Twenty Years of Arts Journalism
Whereas, Broad Street Review was founded in 2005 by journalist Dan Rottenberg as an independent, nonprofit publication dedicated to thoughtful, in-depth arts journalism at a time when very few digital outlets prioritized serious cultural coverage. For the past twenty years, it has served as a vital platform for arts criticism, reporting, and conversation across Philadelphia and the greater region, helping to document, contextualize, and elevate the city’s rich and diverse cultural life; and
Whereas, Broad Street Review has remained steadfast in its commitment to free and accessible journalism, maintaining an open archive without a paywall and ensuring that artists, audiences, and communities can engage with professional arts coverage regardless of income or institutional affiliation; and
Whereas, Broad Street Review has demonstrated leadership in ethical and inclusive cultural journalism by prioritizing accessibility, disability justice, and fair compensation for writers and cultural workers, recognizing the essential labor that sustains a healthy arts ecosystem; and
Whereas, under the leadership of its editors, writers, and contributors, Broad Street Review has amplified voices, fostered critical discourse, and provided meaningful visibility to artists and organizations, often serving as the only professional media coverage for important cultural work in our region; and
Whereas, Broad Street Review’s two-decade legacy reflects an enduring belief that the arts are essential to civic life, community connection, and democracy itself, particularly in a city as creative and culturally vibrant as Philadelphia;
Therefore, By virtue of this Citation, the Council of the City of Philadelphia does hereby honor Broad Street Review on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary, commending its extraordinary contributions to arts journalism and cultural life, and extending sincere gratitude and best wishes for continued impact and success in the years to come.
