A competitive process led to the selection of a partnership between the Philadelphia Education Fund, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, and the Fleisher Art Memorial. The team will pursue a ten-year goal of bringing arts learning opportunities to all children and youth in the Greater Philadelphia region. Together, the three groups will strive to support and coordinate high quality arts learning offerings, both in and out of school, and to ensure equity, access, and diversity in the programming.

The Wallace Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, the Lenfest Foundation, the Nutter Inaugural Committee, and the Lincoln Financial Foundation have cumulatively contributed $1.425 million to the effort. The start up two-year budget is projected to be $2 million.

The team’s proposal asked the selection committee to “Imagine a city and region that commits to the arts as a key tool in transforming communities and keeping youth engaged and successful in and out of school… giving students the opportunity to participate in a thriving economy in which the skills of imagination and innovation are valued.”

By creating and coordinating an arts education delivery system in partnership with schools, arts organizations, after school providers, funders, etc. and by building a citywide and eventually a regional coalition of stakeholders, the leadership team will make that vision a reality in Greater Philadelphia.