Celebrating a Year of Growth
In the past year, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia has remained steadfast in our mission to empower the cultural community through innovative programs, collaborative spaces, and inclusive initiatives. By offering resources, workshops, and events tailored to the needs of artists, nonprofits, and cultural leaders, CultureWorks has cultivated a thriving environment that champions creativity, equity, and sustainability. Below is a summary of the key milestones and activities that defined the year.
Presenting Workshops and Educational Events
Hosted professional development workshops for capacity building with experts in the field, such as An Introduction to Event Sponsorships with Sara Zia Ebrahimi, a Donor Participation Project Masterclass led by Louis Diez, and Protect Your Work: Understanding Intellectual Property Rights led by Cynthia Dahl at The University of Pennsylvania.
Hosting Community Gatherings and Networking
With the incoming Co-Executive Directors, held a series of member listening sessions to gain a clearer understanding of the needs of members, with a focus on fiscally sponsored projects.
Piloted the Third Thursday series, starting with an October event focused on the music industry.
These sessions brought together industry leaders and members to discuss trends and build connections, and a full schedule will go live in January 2025.
Initiated a Monthly Space Onboarding process to strengthen the CultureWorks community by fostering relationships among co-working members and reintroduce the offerings provided in Center City.
Coordinated Calm + Create: Wellness and Holiday Joy in collaboration with Forbidden Fruit, a wellness-focused event offering creative activities to bring calm and joy to the holiday season.
Advancing Inclusion
Hosted conversations on arts and journalism following the 2024 election, bringing together voices from Broad Street Review, ArtBlog, Tiny News Collective, and Root Quarterly.
Collaborated with the Arts Administrators of Color Network on an election season affinity space for people of color, emphasizing the intersection of art and politics in a supportive environment.
Enhancing Membership and Space Development
Moved across the hall to a new office suite that opens additional possibilities for gathering and collaboration.
Launched the Cultural Mavericks Program, offering discounted coworking memberships to creative individuals, aligning with CultureWorks’ mission to foster innovation and inclusivity.
Doubled the number of coworking members.Welcomed 13 new fiscally sponsored projects, bringing our total count to 91. These organizations serve communities across the entire city of Philadelphia with programming related to arts and culture, historic preservation, environmental justice, anti-violence, foodways, and more.
Launched an internal overhaul of our policies and procedures to ensure our fiscal sponsorship program remains responsive to project needs.
And so much more!
As we look ahead to our 15-year anniversary in 2025, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible community that has grown with us. At CultureWorks, we believe in the power of collaboration, and we can’t wait to continue fostering this vibrant, creative ecosystem —with you! Together, we’ll keep building a space where innovation, equity, and connection thrive, ensuring a bright future for Philadelphia’s cultural sector.
