Arts groups ask council for dedicated, increased city funding after recent NEA grant rescissions

A broad group of arts organizations and cultural leaders urged Philadelphia City Council to create a more reliable and expanded city funding stream for arts and culture after recent National Endowment for the Arts grant rescissions.

Susan Siegel, a longtime partner of Mural Arts Philadelphia, asked council to fund the Mural Arts request at $5,200,000, noting the organization's impact on tourism, education and public spaces. "I come to you today to strongly advocate that council not only support the 3,700,000.0 budget request, but increase the allocation by $1,550,000 for a total funding of 5,200,000.0," Siegel said.

Speakers representing a range of theater companies (Wilma Theater, FringeArts, Philadelphia Theater Company, Interact, Quintessence, Theater Exile and others) described the economic and social value of city arts funding, and several said they had recently lost anticipated federal support. Lee Goldenberg of the Wilma Theater described the theater's Tony Award recognition and said the organization had received no city funding despite significant economic impact; others asked the council to study renewable revenue options and to raise the Philadelphia Cultural Fund allocation.

Performing‑arts and community arts advocates stressed that many artists are gig workers and community educators who rely on city and foundation support. Witnesses requested council consider dedicated revenue to support mid‑sized and small organizations, expand the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and maintain arts programs that provide after‑school and community services. No new appropriation was adopted at the meeting; advocates asked council to include sustained arts funding in the FY 2026 process.