Patricia Wilson Aden, President & CEO, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

In an interview with Invest:, Patricia Wilson Aden, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, said that the organization is expanding its definition of arts and culture and intensifying its advocacy efforts to support the sector amid unprecedented funding challenges. “In this time of turmoil, with cascading impacts from federal actions, we’ve worked to provide timely, accurate information to our members while also communicating the consequences of these federal actions to the philanthropic community and elected officials.”

What changes over the past year have most impacted the organization, and in what ways?

The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance adopted its new strategic plan in 2024. The plan, Co-Creating Our Future, serves as a roadmap moving forward. We developed it in response to the larger sector’s needs, holding listening sessions to ensure that, as the region’s foremost arts service organization, we were charting a path that supports and responds to the entire cultural ecosystem. Our board adopted the plan in the fall, and we’re excited to recommit ourselves as bold advocates, conveners, and representatives of organizations and the evolving cultural landscape.

A significant aspect of our new strategy is how we’ve broadened our definition of arts and culture. Historically, we represented nonprofits, primarily in the performing and visual arts, but also heritage sites and other cultural organizations. Now, we’ve expanded our purview to include cultural workers, individual artists, and creative entrepreneurs — the people who bring the community to life. Our plan also acknowledges the importance of allied industries like tourism, hospitality, and even parking as interconnected elements of the cultural ecosystem. We’re looking at the intersecting web of interests that sustain our cultural community.

Why is advocacy especially important right now with funding freezes and the uncertainty of the past few months?

Advocacy has always been a key pillar for the Cultural Alliance. Our advocacy is responsive to the sector. We amplify its needs and serve as a collective voice. In this time of turmoil, with cascading impacts from federal actions, we’ve worked to provide timely, accurate information to our members while also communicating the consequences of these federal actions to the philanthropic community and elected officials.

We want to ensure that the impact of decisions made in Washington is understood through the lens of how they affect our local cultural ecosystem. For example, organizations in the Philadelphia region have long depended on funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. These agencies have been affected by executive orders, leading to abrupt grant terminations. Between 2020 and 2024, Pennsylvania benefited from $111 million from these agencies, with over $42 million going to southeastern Pennsylvania. When these funds are cut, it has significant consequences across the board, from large institutions to small, neighborhood-based organizations.

While larger organizations can sometimes absorb these losses, smaller and midsize institutions are hit much harder. We’ve seen impacts on capital projects, such as a significant Woodmere Museum project, which had secured $750,000 in grant funding that’s now at risk. Organizations like the Germantown Historical Society and the Barnes Foundation have also had projects disrupted. The effects are widespread, leading to canceled contracts, terminated staff positions, and a lot of stress, especially because termination notices often arrive abruptly, with no point of contact left due to federal agency staff reductions.

Part of our response has involved deep conversations with funders, and we’ve been encouraged by the philanthropic community’s response. We emphasize the critical role arts and culture play not only in the economy, contributing $3.3 billion annually in Greater Philadelphia, but also in education, senior well-being, and community vibrancy.

 How are your member organizations approaching partnerships and sustainability?

We’re coming together regularly to share information. The Cultural Alliance has positioned itself as a reliable source for accurate research, which we distribute widely. Our monthly arts leader calls have seen increasing participation as leaders gather for important discussions. At one point, we sent advocacy alerts weekly to meet the hunger for information.

We’re also exploring new operational models and looking for efficiencies through back-office collaborations. We’ve partnered closely with PA Humanities and the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, as well as our peers at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Together, we represent cultural interests statewide and generate data and narratives to present to elected officials.

Finally, we’re supporting initiatives like ArtPhilly, which curates innovative collaborations to spark civic dialogue leading up to 2026. These partnerships, whether it’s a local dance group working with a national company or a Center City institution partnering with a neighborhood organization, reflect our commitment to working together to keep arts and culture vibrant.

 How has the sector’s resilience broken through the noise and spread innovation from one organization to another?

We’re trying to break through the noise, but I won’t diminish how difficult this is for organizations and individuals in the sector. These are brave people who persevere despite challenges, ensuring programs and performances continue even as forces work to silence them.

We’ve collaborated with PA Humanities and our Pittsburgh counterparts on a statewide survey that revealed stark impacts:  Nearly all (92%) of Southeastern PA organizations surveyed report they would be directly impacted by cuts or changes to funding. These effects include potential impacts to cash flow and payroll, postponing or canceling programs, and impacts to capital programs. 62% of organizations reported that their programs were at risk of being affected by these actions. This disruption undermines shared values like educational attainment, yet these programs are being actively disrupted.

There’s a disconnect: We want to bring the world to Philadelphia for events like FIFA World Cup, yet we’re disinvesting in the experiences that make Philadelphia a destination. We use this data, along with compelling stories, to inform and persuade elected officials to make the connection undeniable between federal cuts and their impact on local institutions and programs. 

What are your top priorities moving forward?

We are focused on combining data, partnerships, and narratives to make the case for arts and culture as tangible and essential. There’s a deep spirit of generosity in the cultural sector; we value inclusion and individual expression, which are all endangered right now. These are fundamental to our society and democracy, and we’re doing everything we can to shed light on and amplify the consequences of disinvestment. That’s the work we do at the Cultural Alliance.

Cultural experiences transform children, especially those who may not otherwise see themselves reflected in mainstream narratives. Arts and culture show them possibilities — that they can be artists, performers, or museum professionals.

We’re also working to erase the stereotype of the starving artist, so more young people see careers in arts and culture as viable. Our Bloomberg Arts Internship program placed 95 rising seniors from Philadelphia public schools this summer, and these are paid internships, crucial for students who otherwise might have to work elsewhere to help their families.

Even if they don’t pursue careers in the arts, these students become cultural consumers, enriching their families’ lives and communities. When you invest in a child’s cultural experience, it has ripple effects that benefit everyone.

We hope our elected officials get it, too. We’ve found it effective to give them data but also to remind them of their own experiences with local theaters and heritage sites. I recently met a representative who finally understood when we reminded him of a project he did at a local site as an Eagle Scout, which made it real for him.

Pennsylvania’s per capita investment in arts and culture is lower than any neighboring state, less than $1 per capita, while New York, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland all spend more. This also has consequences for our hospitality and tourism industries. We’re hopeful that the next state budget will reflect a deeper investment.