Arts Advocacy Day fights major Cultural Fund budget cuts in 2016

On April 7, Philly arts supporters rallied in the central courtyard of City Hall, hoping that Mayor Michael Nutter and City Council members couldn’t ignore the impact of a proposed major budget cut for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF) in Fiscal Year 2016.

The demonstration marked Philly’s second annual Arts Advocacy Day. A GroundSwell campaign (a program of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance) urged City constituents and officials to speak up for arts funding in Philadelphia.

In 2014, local arts advocates successfully lobbied for an increase to the PCF budget, bringing this year’s funding to $3.14 million, but the current proposed FY2016 budget would cut that back to $1.84 million. Tuesday’s participants hoped their show of support would help boost the budget back up to at least $3.1 million.

“It is outrageous that the Cultural Fund is being cut at the same time that the arts are putting Philadelphia on the map as one of the top cultural destinations in the world,” Cultural Alliance president Maud Lyon said in a Groundswell release. Cities like Boston and Chicago recognize the importance of investment in the cultural sector, but “Philadelphia arts groups have to fight every year to save a minimal and declining investment from the city.”

Despite the threat of rain, a growing crowd holding signs gathered early in the afternoon on Tuesday, including Lyon and representatives of the Mural Arts Program, who had a piece of a current mural project ready for attendees to work on.

MAP project manager Elise Stewart said it was a chance for the legislators upstairs to see for themselves what MAP looks like in action.

“Communities love getting involved…and they do benefit from beautification in the city,” she said.

The demonstration also included songs from the Anna Crusis Women’s Choir.

“It’s indigenous, it’s part of the neighborhoods, it’s grassroots,” Lyon told BSR of the type of project funding that would be cut with the proposed budget.

Supporters from Piffaro Renaissance Band were also on hand, including executive director Shannon Cline and board member Lee Kimball.

“It’s so frustrating to me, because it’s such a no-brainer,” Kimball said of maintaining the dollars for the PCF. “Investing in the arts has economic impact.”

At right: Philadelphia Cultural Alliance GroundSwell supporters pose with their signs in the City Hall courtyard. Photo by Alaina Mabaso.