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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMMarch 12, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2007
CONTACT: Solomon Jones
(215) 829-1620/ (215) 370-5681
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Mayoral Candidate Chaka Fattah today released his arts and culture plan to further define Philadelphia as a vibrant capital of arts and culture.
"Our city's arts and culture bring Philadelphia to life, and as Mayor I will continue to grow our arts and cultural institutions," Fattah said.
The Fattah Administration will bring art to the neighborhoods and expand the city's funding of community institutions. The reestablishment of the Office of Arts and Culture will provide the vision to make this neighborhood growth possible and be a central point of contact within city government for all arts and culture organizations.
The Fattah Administration will fully fund the operating costs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and increase the city's arts and culture budget by 25 percent. As Mayor, Fattah will also work to reestablish the Office of Arts and Culture to create a central point of contact for neighborhood cultural organizations.
Fattah will also encourage partnerships between cultural institutions and public schools, thereby providing curriculum enhancement, internships, and increased support for the arts. The Fattah Administration will use educational involvement as a key benchmark in determining how to allocate the city's cultural funds.
"Partnerships in the schools are only as good as the opportunities that exist outside the classroom," Fattah said. "We must increase the distribution of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance's discounted ticket program, FunSavers, to schools and youth groups. I strongly believe that if students can have better access to the great works showcased in Philadelphia, everyone will benefit."
In addition to fully funding the Art Museum's operating costs, the Fattah Administration will assist the Art Museum with its groundbreaking expansion project. Other priorities include ensuring that the Barnes Collection is moved within city limits and leveraging city resources and to attract federal and state funding to bring an R&B Museum to Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts.
To learn more about the Fattah Plan for Philadelphia's Arts and Culture please visit the policy page of our website at http://www.phillyforfattah.com/policy_center.asp.
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