Creative Philadelphia

On April 15, 2021, Mayor Kenney will propose a budget to City Council for the coming fiscal year which starts July 1, 2021. Due to COVID-19, the City is facing difficult budget choices this year. We have fewer resources than in the past but know that Philadelphians have more needs than ever before. The City wants to hear from Philadelphians like you on how the City should focus its spending. Share your thoughts by completing this brief survey by this Sunday, February 28: bit.ly/2NED648

On Thursday, Philadelphia City Council will consider proposed legislation to allot $1 million for artists.

Philadelphia City Councilmembers At-Large Isaiah Thomas and Katherine Gilmore Richardson have created a $1 million grant called "Illuminate the Arts" as part of... the city council's $25 million New Normal Budget Act which prioritizes recovery for jobs and economic prosperity throughout the pandemic. See more

Today, Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson & I are announcing $1M to #IlluminateTheArts in grants for artists, non-profits and businesses. When the city fully opens up, arts and culture will drive people to the city. Investing now will bring people and dollars to Philly.

Applications for mid-size arts organizations open today!

Today is the day! #GivingTuesdayNow

Love From Philly is bringing hope, inspiration, resources and love to Philly's entertainment and arts community in these difficult times. Creative Philadelphia is proud to support this. Tune in this weekend for the virtual city wide music & arts festival.

Happy International Jazz Day! To wrap up Jazz Philadelphia’s V-JAM Philly celebration, we are sharing our final throwback post highlighting our past Jazz Appreciation Month exhibitions. In 2019 for Jazz Appreciation Month, we transformed our art gallery into a listening station recognizing past jazz honorees of the Benny Golson and Philly Celebrates Jazz awards. For this Throwback Thursday, here’s a sample of that showcase: One : McCoy Tyner, pianist, Benny Golson honoree, ...Continue reading

Get ready for the "Love From Philly" Virtual Arts event, sponsored by Creative Philadelphia, which kicks off this Friday, May 1st. View their website for additional details about the different acts and more upcoming virtual events! https://creativephl.org/event/love-from-philly/

Today is International Sculpture Day! In celebration, check out the recent conservation of 'American War Mother and Her Sons' by Harry Lewis Raul, 1921. This piece is located at Philadelphia's Wister Woods Park. Conserved by Kreilick Conservation, LLC. During, after, and before treatment last Fall.

As part of Jazz Philadelphia’s V-JAM Philly celebration, we are sharing weekly throwback posts highlighting our past Jazz Appreciation Month exhibitions. In 2019 for Jazz Appreciation Month, we invited visual artists for whom jazz has been an integral part of their artistic development and life. The result was Reflections, an exhibition at the intersection of visual and performance art. Read on for a walk down Philly jazz memory lane! One : Bruce Turner, Jimmy Heath at Mo...Continue reading

Attention: Pennsylvania’s self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, and others not eligible for regular unemployment compensation can begin filing claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits.

Are you a Philadelphia artist or small arts and cultural organization? Apply for the COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL Fund! Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Review the guidelines and apply now. bit.ly/3ed4IWl

As part of Jazz Philadelphia's V-JAM Philly celebration, we are sharing weekly throwback posts highlighting our past Jazz Appreciation Month exhibitions. Read on for a walk down Philly jazz memory lane! ‘Transforming Jazz: A Visual Journey’, 2018 captured the genre’s dynamic essence color, patterns, movements, and symbols with the work of 37 artists. Local artist Leroy Johnson juried. Johnson: For this show, I selected a wide range of works that capture different approac...hes to the theme. It’s a well-balanced grouping, and I think the word that comes to my mind is spirit. I grew up surrounded by jazz in Philadelphia, and these pieces remind me of the spirit of my childhood. One : Tom Herbert | ‘Giant Steps’, Mixed media In my mixed media work, which is a blend of collage, painting, and assemblage, I attempt to reflect and distort the world around us. My method of work involves deconstructing images and reassembling them in a way that creates a new narrative. ‘Giant Steps’ is a 1960 album & title track by John Coltrane with 26 chords and 10 key changes. Two : Ife Nii Owoo | ‘Indigo Muse’, Collage acrylic on paper I create collages, with hand-painted papers, familial, iconic/historic images, found objects, typography, and symbols. This work allows me to explore how color, image, patterns, and textures evoke memory. ‘Indigo Muse’ is a vibrant homage to legendary jazz performer Josephine Baker. Three : Janis Pinkston | ‘Venus de Yellow’, Mixed Media The 3D sculpture is an assemblage of the guitar my brother used to teach himself how to play. My brother spent many years playing in various bands, and played piano, saxophone & clarinet. As a teen, he religiously listened to musical artists such as Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Smith, Dave Brubeck & Oscar Peterson which became my favorites as well. The improvisational quality of jazz inspired my method of creating art, which evolves as it is created". Four : Michael Wiley | ‘Improv’, Wood sculpture I love materials. I respond to the materials before me. They dictate. My subconscious understands them. I allow that understanding to guide me. Inspiration does not fall out of the sky and conjugates with your brain. You will get inspired if you're working. Inspiration has to find you while you're working. ‘Improv’ was inspired by Wiley's love of jazz and its creative process.

REMINDER! Applications are open for the COVID-19 Art Aid PHL Fund for individual artists and small arts organizations.

1,100 Philadelphia artists and arts organizations responded to our COVID-19 Impact Survey. See the results. bit.ly/3ehpOTA