I’m continually reminded that advocacy is not a solo act. It’s a collective endeavor rooted in relationships, shared values, and a belief in collective power to strengthen communities. In what feels like perpetual moments of uncertainty and rapid change, we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to show up with clarity, generosity, and resolve. Whether we are engaging elected officials, partnering across sectors, or gathering in dialogue to strengthen our relationships with one another, our work is most effective when it is grounded in respect and a commitment to the common good.

This month’s newsletter reflects that collective spirit. From policy roundtables and advocacy tours to civic conversations and statewide engagement, we are building spaces where artists, community leaders, and public servants can listen to one another and work toward practical solutions. The arts belong to all of us, and so does the future we are shaping together.

From Dialogue to Action: Policy and Action Roundtable Sells Out

Our inaugural Policy and Action Roundtable will take place on March 5, and the response has been extraordinary. Originally capped at 100 attendees, the event sold out within 24 hours. Thanks to our partnership with Point Park University, we were able to double capacity, and then reached another sellout in just a few days.

We are honored to welcome Mayor Corey O'Connor and County Executive Sara Innamorato for this first policy-oriented conversation. Discussion themes will include the role of arts, culture, and creative workers in Pittsburgh’s future; alignment between City priorities and the needs of the cultural sector; policy and systems barriers facing artists and organizations; the vision and next steps for Allegheny County cultural planning; and the return of approximately $13 million to the RAD grant pool following stadium bond retirement, and how those future investments may be shaped.

This convening reflects a strong appetite for meaningful dialogue and action at the intersection of arts and public policy. 

We invite you to submit policy-oriented questions for consideration during the Q&A portion of the program.

On the Ground, In Community: Advocacy Trolley Tour Returns This May

Planning is underway for our 2026 Advocacy Trolley Tour on May 1. This signature event brings elected officials and philanthropic partners together for a curated look at the strength of our region’s arts ecosystem and how public and private dollars are leveraged to sustain impactful work.

This year’s tour will travel between the North Side, Sharpsburg, and East Liberty, with stops at Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, City of Asylum, Main Street Sharpsburg, and Kelly Strayhorn Theater, highlighting the breadth of our cultural sector.

We are currently conducting outreach to confirm participation from our legislative delegation and philanthropic community, strengthening relationships and deepening shared understanding of the arts’ essential role in vibrant communities.

Art as Civic Dialogue

On February 10, I participated in Civics Cypher, a collaborative program between Kelly Strayhorn Theater and 1Hood Media. The second installment of a three-part series, the program focused on how the arts community responds to government action. The event brought together artists, advocates, and community members to explore the intersection of creative expression and civic life, examining how art can challenge, inform, and respond to the systems that govern us. 

Bipartisan Leaders Discuss State Budget Gaps and Priorities in Regional Growth Series 

On February 11, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development launched its new Regional Growth Series with a timely conversation on Gov. Shapiro’s proposed FY 2026–27 budget. The panel featured Sen. Kim Ward (R- District 39), Sen. Jay Costa (D-District 43), Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-District 62), and Rep. Aerion Abney (D-District 19), who engaged in a substantive and bipartisan discussion reflecting the priorities of their districts, caucuses, and communities.

At the center of the conversation was the Governor’s proposed $53.3 billion budget, which includes a projected $4.6 billion gap between anticipated revenue and proposed spending. While panelists differed on how best to address the shortfall, there was broad agreement that Pennsylvania must identify and cultivate sustainable new revenue streams to remain competitive and meet growing demands.

Sen. Ward and Rep. Struzzi emphasized the importance of significantly reducing the deficit to avoid drawing down the state’s Rainy Day Fund, currently at approximately $8 billion. Sen. Costa, by contrast, framed the proposed budget as a strategic investment in growth, cautioning against focusing solely on managing decline rather than positioning the Commonwealth for long-term prosperity.

The discussion also underscored several shared priorities: strengthening transit and infrastructure; meeting the energy demands of emerging industries while balancing environmental stewardship; expanding access to affordable, secure housing; improving education outcomes and workforce development; and fostering a business climate that supports both employers and workers.

Rep. Abney used the panel to highlight his sponsored House Bill 1523, Transit for All, which would place an additional tax on ride-share services, creating a dedicated funding stream to support statewide mass transit systems if passed.

Other News of Interest:

Arts Advocacy Day 2026

We will convene with peers from across the state in Harrisburg on March 24 to meet with legislators and advocate for priorities that strengthen Pennsylvania’s arts ecosystem and cultural sector. You can expect a special edition of Advocacy in the Arts outlining the specific policy and funding priorities we’ll be discussing with elected officials to hit your inbox next week. If you’re interested in participating in this collective day of advocacy, we encourage you to register with Creative Pennsylvania and join us in making the case for the arts.

Hanna du Plessis: A Life Lived Fully, A Legacy of Grace

Hanna du Plessis (1977-2026) was an artist, facilitator, and luminous presence whose final chapter was itself an act of profound creativity. Through her own process of dying, Hanna invited so many into an honest, courageous conversation about what it means to be alive. She modeled how to face mortality with clarity and grace, while still making room for joy, humor, beauty, and deep, loving relationships. Even as her body grew weaker, her spirit remained expansive with generosity and wisdom, grounded in gratitude, and attentive to the people around her.

Throughout her practice, Hanna facilitated culture-shifting work that reached far beyond traditional arts spaces. She was deeply engaged in racial healing and organizational transformation, specializing in working with white people on questions of racial justice. With uncommon steadiness and compassion, she helped participants examine their role in systems of harm without becoming immobilized by shame or defensiveness. Her approach invited accountability rooted in love, calling people forward rather than calling them out. Hanna’s legacy lives not only in the art she created, but in the courageous conversations she nurtured and the communities she helped transform.

Do you know a person or organization worth a spotlight? We'd love to learn more! Use this form to send us their info for consideration in a future newsletter.

Shape Allegheny County’s Future

Allegheny County is launching Allegheny Forward, a long-range plan that will guide growth, investment, and development across the county for the next 25 years. This planning effort will help shape decisions about land use, housing, transportation, infrastructure, economic opportunity, parks and open space, and other priorities that affect daily life in our communities. Because the plan will inform real investments, community input is essential.

We encourage representatives and supporters of the arts ecosystem and cultural sector to participate in a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. Attendees will learn more about the planning process and have an opportunity to share what matters most to them.
 

Due Something: Inspire Justice

The ACLU of Pennsylvania is hosting an art contest challenging young creators to make the constitutional promise of due process visible, accessible, and impossible to ignore.

Open to art creatives ages 18-30, the contest seeks original artwork that explores the meaning and importance of due process to our civil liberties and freedoms, especially as it pertains to fairness and civic participation, particularly within immigrant, Black, TLGBQ+, and historically excluded communities. Three winners selected by judges will each receive $1,200, be featured in campaign materials, and receive an invitation to speak or be highlighted at campaign events or exhibits.
 

Call for Participants: Research Study on Creativity & Arts Education 

Pittsburgh-based artist Maggy Navin (Regarding Dew) is seeking women with arts-based higher education experience for a 40-minute interview on how schooling impacted their relationship to creativity. Interviews run through February, are fully anonymized, and participants receive a free creative coaching session. 

This study is part of a larger research series examining how institutional and cultural forces shape women’s creative lives, with findings planned for publication in publicly accessible resources and academic journals.
 

Thanks for helping shape Pittsburgh's future through advocacy and action,

Patrick Fisher
CEO, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

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