Your Voice Matters: Setting Arts Priorities for Pittsburgh’s Mayoral Election

Ensure creative perspectives are embedded in municipal decision-making by establishing artist seats on Boards, Authorities, and Commissions, and by applying an arts-integration lens to all City projects. Prioritize the recruitment of diverse artists with demonstrated experience in community engagement and ensure that accessibility, cultural relevance, and racial equity guide visioning, planning, design, and implementation.

• Expands civic imagination by introducing creative problem-solving approaches to municipal planning and policy.
• Deepens community buy-in and trust for City projects through inclusive, culturally responsive engagement strategies.
• Promotes human-centered design and planning, ensuring City initiatives reflect the lived experiences and needs of residents.
• Strengthens equity in municipal governance by giving historically underrepresented artists a formal role in decision-making.
• Encourages cross-sector collaboration between artists, City staff, and community stakeholders, fostering innovative solutions to civic challenges.
• Enhances the visibility and professional opportunities of local artists, reinforcing Pittsburgh’s reputation as a culturally vibrant city.
• Supports long-term sustainable outcomes by integrating creative perspectives into infrastructure, public space, and policy development.
• Opens opportunities for infrastructure and capital improvement projects to be both functional and visually engaging, enhancing the city’s streetscapes and creating landmarks or points of destination.

• Mandate at least one cultural worker or practicing artist per relevant City board, commission, or authority.
• Develop training programs for artists serving in civic roles, covering municipal processes, governance, and community engagement.
• Utilize a rotating cohort model to ensure a diversity of voices and perspectives over time, while broadening opportunities for more artists to participate.

To ensure Pittsburgh remains a vibrant, inclusive place to live, work, and visit, the City should support community-driven public programming that uplifts local traditions, homegrown talent, and the everyday experiences of its neighborhoods. This requires centering equity by redistributing resources to communities that have been historically excluded from cultural investment, prioritizing BIPOC-led organizations and LGBTQIA+ venues, intergenerational efforts, immigrant communities, and those serving low-income census tracts. By empowering grassroots efforts and extending opportunities for residents to shape the city’s cultural life, Pittsburgh can strengthen population retention, protect against cultural erasure, and amplify its distinctive character and identity. Diverse and representative programming fosters a democracy of choice, ensuring residents see their interests reflected and valued in publicly supported initiatives, while reinforcing a shared sense of belonging across the city.

• Enhances neighborhood safety by working with artists and creatives to collaboratively activate public spaces and ensuring they are well-used, well-maintained, and welcoming to all residents while keeping public safety and transportation management at the forefront.
• Cultivates civic pride and strengthens a collective commitment to Pittsburgh’s long-term vitality.
• Reduces social isolation and builds stronger connections among neighbors, fostering a sense of belonging.
• Stimulates local economic activity through increased foot traffic and neighborhood engagement.
• dvances inclusion and amplifies the visibility of historically marginalized communities.
• Provides direct support to working artists, enabling them to create and contribute within their own neighborhoods.

• Expand and enhance the existing Mini-Grants for Community Events and STOP the Violence Community Investment Grant programs by broadening eligibility criteria and streamlining the application process to improve accessibility.
• Utilize applications that are easy to navigate and do not add unnecessary or cumbersome steps for approval.
• Provide City-managed technical assistance for permitting, promotion, and logistical planning to reduce administrative burdens on organizers.
• Prioritize funding for programs and events that are free and open to the public, ensuring broad community access and participation.
• Partner with trusted, impact-driven nonprofit organizations or community partners to support program administration and manage fund deployment efficiently and equitably.
• Promote funded events and activities through City-managed communication channels to maximize visibility and attendance.

Public art in Pittsburgh should be understood and supported as more than permanent sculpture or formal commissions. It includes temporary and ephemeral works, artist-led design contributions, community-engaged projects, and creative activations of public space. To fully unlock the potential of public art investments, the City should modernize the Percent-for-Art program and streamline processes by embedding artists from the earliest stages of planning. Expanded eligibility should include community-engaged projects, ephemeral works, and artist-led design contributions, alongside traditional permanent installations. 

This approach must prioritize equitable access by expanding opportunities for artists historically underrepresented in public art commissions and by redistributing resources to BIPOC, immigrant, and under-invested neighborhoods. Early integration allows more time for authentic community engagement, ensuring residents help shape both the vision and creative leadership of projects. By aligning investments with equity, Pittsburgh not only strengthens its cultural identity and community connections but also prepares its artists for broader regional, national, and international opportunities.

• Encourages innovative, inclusive, and community-rooted public art that reflects the diversity of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods.
• Ensures public funds are used efficiently, integrating artistic elements during construction (e.g., embedded design in infrastructure) rather than as afterthoughts.
• Expands opportunities for Pittsburgh-based artists, supporting professional growth and portfolio development.
• Strengthens civic pride and reinforces neighborhood identity through art embedded in shared public spaces.
• Increases cultural tourism and boosts local economic activity.
• Enhances transparency and accountability in public art processes, reinforcing public trust.

• Update Percent-for-Art ordinance to broaden eligible project types and sizes, including community-driven and temporary works.
• Require early artist involvement in planning phases for all qualifying capital projects, with RFPs for art being required to be issued alongside initial project design.
• Create a 1–2 year Artist-in-Residence program within key City departments (e.g., DOMI, DPW) to facilitate integration and identify creative opportunities.
• Rehire a dedicated arts and culture public art specialist to coordinate cross-department collaboration.
• Streamline the City’s vendor registration process for individual artists and small creative businesses.
• Require that at least one representative from a Registered Community Organization serve on every artist selection committee.
• Publish annual compliance and impact reports to ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable distribution of commissions.

To affirm the value of creative labor, the City should adopt a formal policy to compensate artists and creative professionals at or above W.A.G.E. (Working Artists in the Greater Economy) benchmarks. Fair compensation must account for planning time, materials, lead times, and administrative overhead, ensuring creative work is recognized as essential and sustainably supported. This policy should be rooted in equity by addressing historic disparities that have left BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ artists disproportionately underpaid or asked to work “for exposure.” Transparent pay scales, clear contract timelines, and equitable distribution of resources across all City arts initiatives will help guarantee that all artists are fairly compensated and able to contribute fully to Pittsburgh’s cultural life.

• Professionalizes creative work, affirming that artistic labor is a valued component of the City’s cultural ecosystem.
• Promotes income equity across the arts, helping to close historic gaps in pay for underrepresented artists.
• Attracts high-quality creative talent to City projects, enhancing the quality and diversity of public art and cultural programming.
• Supports economic stability for artists, enabling them to invest in their practices, households, and local communities.
• Reinforces public confidence in City stewardship of arts funding by demonstrating a commitment to fair and transparent practices.
• Encourages broader community participation and retention of creative talent, contributing to the vibrancy and sustainability of Pittsburgh’s arts ecosystem.

• Codify W.A.G.E. standards in all municipal contracting and procurement policies for arts and cultural projects.
• Include line items for artist fees in all City arts initiatives, ensuring budget transparency and adequate funding for compensation.
• Conduct annual audits to monitor adherence to W.A.G.E. benchmarks, adjusting for inflation and evolving cost-of-living considerations.

The City should streamline the permitting process and provide basic support, like utilities, safety, and waste management, for cultural events and public art projects. A simple, centralized system would cut down on red tape and open up opportunities for more people to bring creative ideas to life. The city should provide support to reduce costs, bridge language barriers, and welcome nontraditional events and community gatherings. By removing barriers and making resources easier to use, Pittsburgh can ensure that artists and neighborhoods who have often been left out can take part fully in the city’s cultural life, helping to create public spaces that are vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming for everyone.

• Reduces administrative red tape, making it easier for organizers to plan and execute cultural events.
• Encourages a more diverse range of public programming that reflects the city’s communities and creative voices.
• Increases visibility and professional opportunities for Pittsburgh-based artists and creative teams.
• Supports equitable cultural participation by lowering financial and logistical barriers for historically underrepresented groups.
• Strengthens neighborhood engagement and social cohesion through accessible, community-focused programming.
• Enhances public safety and infrastructure reliability at cultural events, improving the overall visitor experience.
• Generates local economic activity by attracting attendees to events, stimulating nearby businesses, and supporting creative workforce development.
• Builds public trust and confidence in municipal services by demonstrating a coordinated, transparent approach to event permitting and support.

• Create a Citywide Cultural Permitting Coordinator role to serve as a single point of contact and streamline approval processes; make their contact accessible and not hidden behind the OneStop process.
• Offer tiered support packages for different event types, ranging from small-scale pop-ups to large festivals.
• Partner with community-based organizations to co-design permitting systems and ensure equitable access.
• Develop a simplified permit process for artists or artist teams already approved by the Art Commission, reducing duplication and administrative delays.

Create a dedicated fund, similar to the Regional Assets District, which would be sourced from the city’s existing Amusement Tax, to specifically help arts and entertainment venues make critical capital upgrades and support the local creative workforce. Eligible uses should include accessibility improvements, lighting and sound infrastructure, safety features, weatherization, and paying artist fees to support performers who live and work in Pittsburgh. To ensure equitable outcomes, the fund should prioritize BIPOC-led venues, small- to mid-sized independent operators, and spaces located in under-invested neighborhoods. By directing resources where they are most needed, this policy strengthens Pittsburgh’s cultural infrastructure while ensuring that growth and investment benefit the full diversity of the city’s creative community.

• Improves public safety and accessibility, making venues more welcoming and inclusive for all residents and visitors.
• Extends the lifespan and functionality of cultural infrastructure, protecting long-term community assets.
• Strengthens relationships between venues and surrounding neighborhoods by enabling soundproofing and other investments that help mitigate conflicts related to the City’s sound ordinance.
• Promotes more equitable cultural participation across the city by increasing the geographic and demographic reach of arts and entertainment offerings.
• Supports Pittsburgh-based artists by creating more performance opportunities with fair compensation, helping retain creative talent in Pittsburgh.
• Stimulates local economic activity through increased attendance, tourism, and neighborhood spending.
• Reinforces Pittsburgh’s reputation as a vibrant, inclusive cultural hub, enhancing quality of life and making the city more attractive to residents, businesses, and visitors.

• Designate a minimum percentage of available funds for equity-prioritized applicants, ensuring resources reach historically underrepresented and underserved communities.
• Offer annual application cycles accompanied by targeted technical assistance to increase accessibility and support strong, competitive proposals.
• Prioritize funding for applicants who present robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies and clearly defined community-use plans.

Launch a program to identify and license vacant lots, storefronts, and municipal buildings for temporary cultural use. Short-term activations of 6–24 months can serve as low-cost hubs for creation, performance, and community gathering, turning underused city spaces into vibrant cultural destinations. To ensure equitable access and outcomes, the program should prioritize artists and groups from communities most impacted by vacancy and disinvestment, streamline applications for first-time applicants and those without formal nonprofit status, and provide funding to help cover activation costs. By reducing financial and administrative barriers, the City can foster broader participation, support diverse creative voices, and transform underutilized spaces into inclusive, community-centered cultural hubs.

• Strengthens neighborhood safety by activating spaces that are well-used, welcoming, and inclusive.
• Revitalizes underutilized City-owned properties, converting them into community assets.
• Provides entry points and professional opportunities for emerging artists.
• Builds trust between residents and the City through visible, community-focused cultural activation.
• Deepens civic pride and fosters shared investment in Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods and future.
• Reduces social isolation and strengthens neighborhood cohesion through inclusive programming.
• Supports local economic activity by attracting visitors and generating foot traffic for nearby businesses.

• Revive the use of GIS tools in the Vacant Lot Toolkit to clearly communicate available lots and their prioritization, making it easier for residents and organizations to identify opportunities.
• Revise the Adopt-a-Lot program guidelines to expand beyond beautification, explicitly including arts-centered initiatives so they can be intentionally prioritized and supported.
• Utilize City-managed communication channels, along with trusted nonprofit organizations and community partners, to broaden awareness and understanding of the program.
• Develop a simplified Art Commission review process, or provide a waiver, for temporary artworks with a lifespan of three years or less, reducing administrative barriers to activation.
• Waive or subsidize rent and utilities for approved program participants to lower operational costs and encourage long-term engagement.
• Partner with local Community Development Corporations (CDCs) to assist in program administration and ensure neighborhood-level coordination. Establish a performance-based grant program that reimburses participants for eligible expenses when defined project outcomes are met.
• Create a clear pathway to transfer ownership of City-owned properties to individuals, organizations, or groups that have demonstrated consistent, responsible stewardship over time.

To prevent displacement and ensure economic equity, the City should invest in tools and programs that help residents, whether renters or prospective owners, and small businesses maintain long-term stability and control over where they live and work, with a focus on artists, creatives, and small to mid-sized cultural organizations. This includes a full range of affordability strategies, such as land trusts, resident-friendly financing models, long-term rental stabilization tools, and pathways to ownership. Equity should be central to these efforts, prioritizing neighborhoods facing gentrification pressure and ensuring BIPOC and immigrant communities have fair access to housing and business opportunities. Programs should accommodate residents with variable incomes from freelance, contract, or gig work, which accounts for many individuals working within the cultural sector, so they are not excluded from city-supported initiatives. By embedding anti-displacement measures into all City-backed development efforts, Pittsburgh can secure affordability, foster housing stability, and create opportunities for generational wealth in historically marginalized communities.

• Stabilizes neighborhoods by reducing displacement and mitigating housing insecurity.
• Builds pathways to intergenerational wealth creation and long-term economic mobility.
• Preserves cultural continuity while strengthening neighborhood identity and civic pride.
• Serves as a strategy for attracting and retaining both residents and businesses.
• Expands awareness and utilization of City programs and resources, improving access for all residents.
• Reinforces public trust in municipal leadership by demonstrating a sustained commitment to equitable development.

• Establish a Community Right of First Refusal policy, giving residents, tenant associations, or land trusts priority to purchase properties before they are sold to outside investors.
• Create Neighborhood Stability Impact Assessments for all major development proposals to evaluate potential displacement risks and outline required mitigation strategies.
• Review the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Enterprise Zone Revolving Loan Fund for equity pain points and partner with trusted non-profits and community partners to raise awareness of the program.
• Follow the recommendations of the Oakland Plan to establish a revolving loan program and fund for low-interest loans to affordable housing projects.
• Use zoning and tax incentives to encourage mission-aligned developers.
• Launch a Renter-to-Owner transition program with flexible underwriting criteria for gig, freelance, and contract workers.
• Fund capacity-building and technical assistance for community-based organizations to help residents navigate financing, ownership, and development processes.
• Develop long-term commercial lease stabilization programs to preserve affordable retail and studio spaces for small businesses and cultural organizations.
• Partner with local banks and CDFIs to offer equitable lending products with reduced down payment requirements and credit flexibility for historically underserved populations.
• Require public reporting and accountability metrics on anti-displacement and affordability commitments tied to city subsidies or approvals.

Establish a Chief of Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation within the Mayor’s Cabinet to provide unified leadership and strategic oversight for Pittsburgh’s creative and cultural sectors. This office would coordinate city functions, such as Film & Event Management, Nighttime Economies, Public Art, and other cultural initiatives, under a single, high-level office. Equity should be central to this role, ensuring the office is accountable to historically underserved communities and guided by measurable equity metrics in its policies and investments. Leadership should be appointed based on proven experience in inclusive cultural strategy and community engagement, helping to ensure that city resources and programs reflect and serve the full diversity of Pittsburgh’s residents.

• Elevates the visibility, influence, and economic potential of the creative sector.
• Improves coordination and strategic investment across city departments.
• Integrates cultural considerations into top-level decision-making, enhancing civic identity and quality of life.
• Coordinates policies to maximize cultural impact.

• Fund and staff the office in the upcoming city budget cycle.
• Form an advisory board composed of professionals from arts, entertainment, and recreation fields to provide ongoing guidance and sector insight.
• Establish a cross-sector advisory committee to ensure interdepartmental coordination.
• Publish an annual report highlighting sector-wide impact, equity outcomes, and progress toward strategic goals.