Over the past month, I’ve found myself reflecting heavily on two articles that feel especially relevant right now.

Reading them side by side has been striking: the challenges facing our sector remain urgent, but the context keeps shifting, demanding both insight and action. They’ve pushed me to sit with two hard questions: What conversations are we avoiding, and what is the work we must all lean into if we hope to sustain and strengthen our field?

Because the truth is, if our sector doesn’t confront these hard issues now, the opportunities to pivot and evolve may pass us by. If these questions spark something for you, I'd love to hear your thoughts to help shape the advocacy conversations we’ll carry into the new year.

Pennsylvania Creative Industries Ends Regional Partnerships, Impacting PA Arts Funding and Access

Pennsylvania Creative Industries is ending its regional partnerships — a move that removes the local infrastructure that has helped artists, organizations, schools, and culture-bearers access state-funded opportunities for decades. The loss of these programs carries serious implications, both across the state and locally:

Arts in Education

→ Regional Partner: Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media

The sunsetting of the Arts in Education program means fewer students — especially in rural districts — will receive arts-integrated learning. It also removes a dependable income stream for teaching artists who rely on residencies to make ends meet.

 What this means locally: 

Take Action: Disagree with PCI's decision to end its Arts in Education partnership? Find out how to share your feedback in the Calls to Action section below.

Folk and Traditional Arts

→ Regional Partner: Rivers of Steel

This program preserves the cultural traditions that define Pennsylvania, while uplifting new traditions brought by New Americans. Without it, the infrastructure that helps communities pass on and celebrate their cultural practices disappears.

 What this means locally: 

Take Action: Disagree with PCI's decision to end its Folk and Traditional Arts partnership? Find out how to share your feedback in the Calls to Action section below.

Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts

→ Regional Partner: Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

After years of shifting guidelines, PCI will now administer grants directly. Its new grant program is also creating new barriers for small, emerging, and community-centered organizations, as well as artists whose work is not commercially oriented.

 What this means locally: 

Take Action: Disagree with PCI's decision to end its Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts partnership? Find out how to share your feedback in the Calls to Action section below.

Governor Shapiro Signs $50.1 Billion Budget: What It Means for the Arts and Culture Sector

Governor Shapiro has signed a $50.1 billion state budget. Key highlights affecting our field include:

The Commonwealth is investing $50 million to support the Semiquincentennial and major sporting events in 2026. Of that amount, $40 million will be directed toward promotion and marketing, infrastructure, programming, and safety initiatives tied to America’s 250th birthday and other major events. Guidelines for accessing these funds have not yet been released, but we'll share info as soon as we learn more. 

Other News of Interest:

Remembering Bill Ivey: Champion of Cultural Rights and Bold Arts Leadership

Bill Ivey, an American folklorist, author, and influential cultural leader, passed away on November 7 at the age of 81. He served as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts from 1998 to 2001 and twice chaired the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

In 2008, he published Arts, Inc.: How Greed and Neglect Have Destroyed Our Cultural Rights, where he expanded on his Cultural Bill of Rights — a framework he first introduced in his 2000 NEA Chairman’s Statement. Honor his legacy by revisiting his original Cultural Bill of Rights proposal, including the right to our cultural heritage, the right to an artistic life, and more. 

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.

Take the National Artist Safety Survey

The Arts Council has partnered with ARC - Artists at Risk Connection and a group of arts and culture organizations to field The National Artist Safety Survey. 

Your responses will inform the U.S. Safety Guide for Artists and Cultural Workers, to be released in early 2026. This resource will help artists and cultural workers prepare for, navigate, and counter threats and persecution from those seeking to silence them. 

The survey is open through December 19. (If you share this survey, please do so only via email or via private messages.)

City of Pittsburgh Community Listening Survey

Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Corey O'Connor is asking for community input in a new survey. Share your ideas and insights to help ensure the arts and humanities are included in the city's priorities.

Tell Pennsylvania Creative Industries you disagree with  decision to end its regional partnerships

If you also believe that the PCI's decision to end its regional partnerships will have deep and lasting negatives impacts across the Commonwealth, we encourage you to:

We also would be grateful if you shared this message with fellow community members, artists, educators, and arts advocates.

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

Patrick Fisher
CEO, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

PS. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up now to be part of the movement.