Daily Archives: May 6, 2009

Take Action: Save Arts and Cultural Funding in Pennsylvania!

Last year DoN participated in a round table discussion sponsored by Innovation Philadelphia @ DiBruno Brothers on Chestnut Street along with Matthew Fisher of Night Kitchen Media, Howard Blumenthal of MIND TV, Nicole Newman of DiversePhilly, Bernadette Lawler of TheMixedCompany and several others; Innovation Philadelphia had recently completed a study determining that the creative economy in the Philadelphia region was second only to the bio-tech industry in creating revenue and jobs. Now, the Pennsylvania Senate is calling for ZERO funding for the arts in the 09-10 budget. Consider what is happening on South Street with artists coming to the rescue of the business community, replacing failed businesses with art galleries, drawing visitors who spend money on the beleaguered hip strip. What the…?!?

Visit the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance website to make your voice heard; Philadelphia is not only a creative hub for the region providing jobs and revenue for struggling businesses, it actually brings in more revenue than sports, retail and medicine. How about taking back some of the $40 million tax break Comcast recieved to build that monstrosity downtown or the money spent on the sports stadiums that are used less than 12 times a year. Cutting grants to the very industry that draws visitors to Philly is not only short-sighted, it’s insulting to our intelligence.