Posted on September 24, 2008

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Greater Philadelphia Cultural Nonprofits Grew Significantly Over Last Decade, Report Finds

The revenues of cultural nonprofits in the Philadelphia area grew at almost twice the rate of inflation over the past decade, while those of cultural groups in the suburbs grew even faster, a new report from the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance finds.

Funded by PNC and the William Penn and Dolfinger-McMahon foundations, the 2008 Portfolio (76 pages, PDF) is based on financial and other organizational information reported by 281 organizations to the Pennsylvania Cultural Data Project. For the first time, the report also includes a long-term analysis of 108 of those organizations over the last decade (1995 to 2005).

The report found that very large organizations (those with budgets over $10 million) generate 28 percent of their total revenue from investment income, while the biggest source of revenue for small organizations (those with budgets under $250,000) is foundation support, at 25 percent. Theater organizations employ the most people, providing almost one in five jobs in the sector, while science and nature organizations boast the highest attendance, with 3.8 million visits.

The report also found that arts groups in the region employed more than 43,000 paid and volunteer workers and attracted some fifteen million visitors annually. On a less positive note, two out of five cultural organizations included in the report operated with a deficit — a situation compounded by a dramatic decline in federal support for the arts and a 273 percent increase in utility expenses. Despite these and other challenges, however, arts groups in the region continue to make the arts accessible to a broad range of people.

"The greater Philadelphia region has enjoyed a remarkable economic and social resurgence. Arts and culture has been at the forefront of that renaissance," said Peggy Amsterdam, president of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. "With the release of this report, we're finally able to quantify the sector's strong growth and vibrancy over the last decade."

“Greater Philadelphia Cultural Sector Experiences Dramatic Growth.” Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Press Release 9/22/08.

Primary Subject: Arts and Culture
Location(s): Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

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