Demystifying the Arts |
On Vision and Creation
In this month’s Demystifying the Arts column, CEO Patrick Fisher writes about his September encounters with artists, organizations, and events that offered a powerful reminder that creativity is not only about dreaming boldly but also about realizing those dreams in ways that can be shared.
Stories of Transitions and Thresholds
In this month’s Demystifying the Arts column, CEO Patrick Fisher visits with artists across Pittsburgh who are creating space for new identities to take shape, for dormant places to find renewed purpose, and for people to reimagine themselves through practice, collaboration, and expression.
Demystifying the Arts |
Lineage and Legacy: Creating Within a Continuum
In this month’s Demystifying the Arts column, CEO Patrick Fisher visits with artists across Pittsburgh who are both rooted in history and pushing toward the future.
Demystifying the Arts |
The Power of Place and Presence
In this month’s Demystifying the Arts column, CEO Patrick Fisher reflects on the power of place. Not just the physical locations where art happens, but the layered, living environments shaped by creativity, memory, and care.
Demystifying the Arts |
May in Motion: A Glimpse of Pittsburgh’s Creative Pulse
In this month’s Demystifying the Arts column, CEO Patrick Fisher shares a glimpse into the people, places, and events that shaped the region’s creative energy throughout May. From multidisciplinary performances and powerful exhibitions to neighborhood art projects and community-driven festivals, the month was filled with meaningful encounters and artistic expression.
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.
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.
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.
Demystifying the Arts |
How Intermediaries Amplify Impact and Strengthen Ecosystems
Intermediaries play a crucial but often overlooked role in strengthening the nonprofit ecosystem. Learn more on how organizations like the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council serve as connectors between funders and service providers, providing essential programs, amplifying impact, and ensuring resources are used strategically and equitably.
Demystifying the Arts |
Affordable Housing for Artists: A New Opportunity for Artists in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District
The rapid appreciation of housing in Pittsburgh has made it increasingly difficult for artists to afford living and working spaces, raising concerns about the erosion of the city’s creative fabric. However, an opportunity has emerged to help artists secure stable, affordable housing in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Demystifying the Arts |
Where Arts and Sports Collide: Seizing Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft Moment
We often think of the arts as either in competition with or in contention against sports, but the truth is that arts and sports have more in common than they have in difference. Ahead of Pittsburgh hosting the NFL Draft in 2026, CEO Patrick Fisher shares ideas that could bring Pittsburgh’s arts sector into the heart of the upcoming National Football League experience.
Demystifying the Arts |
Pittsburgh: An Emerging Global Hub for Craft Excellence
Pittsburgh—celebrated for its legacy arts institutions, thriving artistic talent, and industrial ingenuity—is poised to become a national and international destination for craft.
Demystifying the Arts |
Standing Together in Uncertain Times: The Arts as a Pathway to Justice and Freedom
In Demystifying the Arts, CEO Patrick Fisher speaks of wrestling with the same unsettling questions that many of you are facing. The world feels more uncertain than ever. Policies once designed to protect our most vulnerable are being dismantled. Harmful ideologies, once whispered in the shadows, are now openly expressed and legitimized through legislation. But, as Patrick shares, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council's commitment remains unwavering.
Demystifying the Arts |
Graffiti as a Cultural Bridge: Lessons from Pittsburgh and Beyond
What if communities viewed graffiti as a form of cultural expression rather than criminal activity? Graffiti is an artform worth celebrating and embracing into city's cultural identities. Here are 10 actionable ways to support graffiti and street artists who are often unsung heroes within their neighborhoods.
Demystifying the Arts |
Rethinking Engagement Strategies with New Technologies
Welcome to Demystifying the Arts, a new arts & culture column from Patrick Fisher, CEO at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
