Philadelphia Arts Programs Fighting Another Uphill Battle With Proposed Budget Cuts

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THE THE CORONAVIRUS HAS DEEPLY AFFECTED THE ARTS IN PHILADELPHIA, AND NOW CONCERN ABOUT WHAT BUDGET CUTS COULD DO, GOING FORWARD, TRANG DO, REPORTS. MANY OF PHILADELPHIA'S ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GONE DARK, THESE PAST THREE MONTHS, BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. NOW, THEY ARE FIGHTING YET ANOTHER UPHILL BATTLE. MAYOR KENNEY'S 2021 BUDGET PROPOSAL. THE $4.4 MILLION CUT ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATES THE OFFICE OF ARTS, CULTURE AND CREATIVE ECONOMY, AND THE PHILADELPHIA CULTURAL FUNDS, WHICH MANY NON-PROFITS DEPEND ONTO OPERATE.

IT DOES AFFECT WHAT WE FEEL IS THE REPUTATION OF OUR SIT. I LIZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FLEISCHER ART MEMORIAL IN BELLA ADVICE TAX COMMUNITY ART CENTER PROVIDES ART EDUCATION TO SO TO SOME 20,000 PHILADELPHIANS EACH YEAR. THE $12,000 IT RECEIVES IS A PAUL PART OF ITS BUDGET, BUT STILL GOES ALONG WAY. MONEY FROM PLACES LIKE THE CULTURAL FUND, THAT ALLOW US TO HIRE TEACHING ARTIST TOSS DO PROGRAMS, TO GO INTO SCHOOLS, TO SUPPORT ARTIST. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN PHILADELPHIA, THE ARTS MAKES PEOPLE TICK, AND WE'RE AT A LOST.

EVEN FOR ORGANIZATION THAT IS DO NOT RECEIVE DIRECT FUNDING FROM THE CITY, THE PROPOSE THE DOLLARS BUDGET CUTS ARE A HUGE BLOW, STAINED GLASS PROJECT OPERATES OUT OF THE KENDRICK RECREATION CENTER WOULD ALSO BRING STUDENTS TO CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHEN NOT MAKING MASTERS PIECES OF THEIR OWN. ISN'T WONDERFUL THING TO GO WITH GREW P YOUR FELLOW CLASSMATES, AND SEE ARTWORK, BEGAN TO MUSEUMS. IN A STATEMENT, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MAYOR WROTE THAT COVID-19 FORCED VERY DIFFICULT DEVICES, AND READS IN PART QUOTE WE HAD TO FIND ALMOST 650 MILLION IN BUDGET BALANCING ACTIONS IN ONE YEAR THAT'S FIVE TIMES THE DEFICIT THE CITY FACED FOLLOWING THE GREAT RECESSION OF 2008. WE WERE FORCED TO MAKE DECISION THAT IS AS DEMONSTRATED BY OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, WE NOT HAVE MADE IF WE HAD MORE RESOURCES. THE MAYOR SPOKESPERSON ALSO SAYS THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL DOES RETAIN TWO STAFFERS FROM THE OFFICE OF ARTS, CULTURE AND CREATIVE ECONOMY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO SUPPORT ART IN THE CITY.

OF COURSE, THIS BUDGET SET NOT FINAL. AS THE CITY COUNCIL CONTINUES TO HOLD HEARINGS TO CONSIDER