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A person with curly hair in a patterned suit speaks at a clear podium. Behind them, a screen displays slides with text about arts, culture, and economic strategy, along with related images. A water bottle is on the podium.

Lisa Yancey delivers a keynote at Kelly Strayhorn Theater on May 15, 2025 // Photo by Patrick Fisher

5 Takeaways from Lisa Yancey’s Keynote: Why Culture Is the Key to Thriving Cities

Missed Lisa Yancey's powerful keynote during Kelly Strayhorn Theater's Owning Our Future: A Symposium on BIPOC Institutional Ownership? We're sharing five takeways that stayed with us after the event — as well as the full video recording of Lisa's inspiring presentation.

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Four people work together in a glassblowing studio. One person shapes molten glass with a torch while others observe and assist. The workspace has tools, safety gear, and industrial lighting.

Better Together x Pittsburgh: Celebration of BIPOC Makers // Photo by SaraBeth Post Eskuche

Weekly Events |

Must-See Pittsburgh Art Exhibits, Concerts, and Performances: May 19-25

Explore Pittsburgh’s arts and culture scene with this week’s event recommendations, featuring art exhibits, concerts, performances, films, literary events, and more!

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The text "Advocacy Alert" is typed on a dark blue background next to the logo for the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Below is a photograph of a government building

Cultural Policy |

Trump’s Impact on the Arts: A Running List of Updates

Within his first 24 hours in office, President Trump rescinded many of former President Biden’s previous executive orders. In the days that followed, threats of federal funding cuts caused concerns throughout the arts and culture community. Here, we'll provide a running list of updates as we gather more info on how the new administration is affecting our sector.

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Two mayoral candidates of Pittsburgh, PA (Ed Gainey and Corey O'Connor) wearing glasses and suits are featured on an orange background with white stars and curved lines. A speech bubble with Q&A is in the center, suggesting a question-and-answer session or discussion.

Pittsburgh Mayoral Candidates Ed Gainey and Corey O'Connor // Photo illustration by Kyrie Bushaw, Gainey photo by Matt Cashore, O'Connor photo provided by campaign

Cultural Policy |

Pittsburgh Mayoral Candidates Pledge Support for Arts and Culture Ahead of Primary Election

Still undecided on who deserves your vote for Pittsburgh Mayor? During a time when federal arts and culture funding is being stripped across the country, we invited the mayoral candidates to speak on the importance of supporting the arts at a local level.

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Three people, two wearing hijabs, sit around a table screen printing the phrase “POWER UP”. Pink and black flames rise above them, with the text “Building Power, Building Resistance” overhead. Green shapes fill the background.

To enact change, we must speak with a unified voice and demonstrate our collective power. // Illustration by Mary Tremonte of Mary Mack Prints (@marymackprints), shared with permission from the artist

Demystifying the Arts |

Arts and Culture are Under Attack. Help Us Fight Back.

Arts and culture are under threat. Essential grant funding is being cut, pushing artists and cultural organizations nationwide into crisis. We cannot be more clear: our sector is under attack and we're asking you to join us in collectively taking action.

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Artistic jobs and opportunities, May 2025

Jobs and Opportunities |

Artistic Jobs and Opportunities Roundup: May 2025

Looking for employment as an artist or arts administrator in Pittsburgh? We’ve compiled a list of job openings at some of the area's best arts and cultural institutions, as well as regional and national opportunities.

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A diverse group of people stands onstage, smiling and holding a large check for $88,000 made out to 44 Creative Entrepreneurs

A selection of creative entrepreneurs who received a $2,000 Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator grant pose during the Creative Hive at Tech25 on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. // Photo by Patrick Fisher

Grant Announcement |

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Awards $88,000 in State Grants to Creative Business Owners

Forty-four Southwestern Pennsylvania creative entrepreneurs were awarded a total of $88,000 from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council to support their business’ general operations as part of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’ (PCA) Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program.

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A large, articulated puppet of a girl with braids and a pink dress is paraded outdoors by puppeteers, surrounded by a crowd of people watching and participating in the event. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.

A large number of Pittsburgh organizations worked together to bring Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, to Pittsburgh for multiple appearances at arts and cultural events // Photo by Patrick Fisher

Demystifying the Arts |

Culture as Civic Infrastructure: Building Our Region's Future Through Cultural Planning

Maybe it sounds like “yinz” and “n’at,” grounding us in place. Maybe it looks like staircases rising like veins through our hills. Maybe it’s the joy of thousands of furries gathering Downtown each July for Anthrocon. However you define it, Pittsburgh’s culture is lived, layered, and uniquely ours.

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Poster on a utility pole reads Protect the Arts in bold letters. It is near an intersection with a white van on the street and brick buildings in the background. Another flyer is partially visible on the pole.

Photo Illustration by Lisa Cunningham

Demystifying the Arts |

When the Arts Are Attacked, Democracy Is at Risk

The threats we’re seeing today aren’t new. They follow a familiar and dangerous pattern of artistic censorship and repression. But the arts have also long been at the forefront of social and political resistance. What can artists, cultural organizations, and supporters do to prevent history from repeating itself? Here, we look to the past and offer suggestions on how to start mobilizing for resistance.

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Collage of six artistic photographs including a dancer, musician, artist, and pottery

Announcement |

Announcing the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s First Biannual Report: Milestones, Impact, and a Commitment to Transparency

The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is pleased to present our first biannual report, highlighting the impact of our work from July to December 2024. Inside, you’ll find major milestones, challenges we’re tackling, and a breakdown of our finances.

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