Philadelphia's Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy

**Mission** Creative Philadelphia provides creative and economic opportunities for all Philadelphians to thrive through the arts. We advance public access to arts and culture, collaborate with local creative communities, and celebrate the city’s cultural assets, contributing to a safer, cleaner, and greener city. **Vision** Creative Philadelphia envisions a safer, cleaner, and greener city where creatives thrive both socially and economically, and arts and culture enriches the lives of all. **Values** **COLLABORATION** We value COLLABORATION, celebrating the diverse perspectives and contributions of our stakeholders and partners. We recognize the transformative power of arts, culture, and creativity to unite people and communities. We are dedicated to establishing Philadelphia as a globally recognized hub of creativity and collaboration in the arts. **CREATIVE EXPRESSION** We believe that CREATIVE EXPRESSION is foundational to personal and community identity, fostering lifelong learning. By leveraging the arts to cultivate healing, joy, and unity, we create positive experiences that uplift and unite people. We actively support, celebrate, and amplify the artistic contributions of all our communities and value the diverse voices and stories that make Philadelphia vibrant. **ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY** We recognize that arts, culture, and creative entrepreneurship are key drivers of ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY and shared prosperity in our City. We aim to eradicate the “starving artist” narrative by generating and championing opportunities for artists to thrive economically **EQUITY and INCLUSIVE DIVERSITY** We believe that access to high-quality, affordable arts experiences and arts educational programming is a fundamental right for all Philadelphians, regardless of who they are or where they live. We are committed to celebrating artists from diverse communities, ensuring EQUITY AND INCLUSIVE DIVERSITY of thought, practices, and experiences. We also support and promote local artists by generating opportunities for them to increase their visibility, develop their skills, and receive meaningful artistic commissions in Philadelphia and beyond. **POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE** We prioritize community health and well-being, recognizing arts, culture, and creativity as drivers of POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE. We are committed to centering and amplifying the community’s voice in all our endeavors. We strive to eliminate barriers so that every Philadelphian, regardless of background or zip code, can access and benefit from the transformative power of the arts. **STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY** We are committed to the responsible STEWARDSHIP and SUSTAINABILITY of Philadelphia’s priceless public artworks and cultural assets, ensuring their preservation, accessibility, and enjoyment for generations to come.