Pew supports a broad spectrum of institutions, artists, projects and cultural marketing initiatives. We also help cultural organizations take advantage of technical assistance and professional development opportunities, which has proven to be an effective means of extending the impact of our investments.

Our objectives in supporting arts and culture are twofold: to nurture artistic excellence and to expand public participation. Our efforts have been successful in Philadelphia, where a thriving arts environment has helped raise the city’s profile on the world stage and infused new life and energy into the region. 

Highlights of our work include:

• The Cultural Data Project provides participating arts organizations in six states with a powerful tool for streamlining their funding applications, tracking attendance and other organizational trends, and comparing themselves with their peers. The project has expanded beyond Pennsylvania and is now also available for groups in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio.
• The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage (formerly the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage) comprises artistic initiatives focused on dance, music, theatre, art exhibits, and local history and heritage, along with fellowships to support individual artists and a program that helps arts organizations strengthen their management and operations. These individual programs were brought together under one roof in 2005 and continue to be a key component of Pew’s arts support.
• The Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Program stimulates leadership and encourages best practices within the cultural community through multi-year unrestricted grants. The organizations that are awarded grants demonstrate excellence in their operations, fiscal management and programming.