COUNCILMEMBER RUE LANDAU UNVEILS RESULTS OF CITYWIDE ARTIST SURVEY

Philadelphia, PA – Councilmember Rue Landau reveals the results of her citywide survey. Over 360 multidisciplinary artists responded to the survey and uncovered significant challenges facing Philadelphia’s creative community. Common topics included financial instability, limited access to affordable workspaces, and more. On Friday night, Councilmember Rue Landau hosted a panel discussion at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, titled “Survey Says: An Analytical Approach to Supporting Philadelphia Artists,” to unveil and discuss these findings.

The Office of Councilmember Rue Landau aimed to learn directly from artists about the challenges, needs, and opportunities within the Philadelphia arts ecosystem. In the midst of the abrupt closure of UArts and the changing cultural landscape, the results of the survey will help inform future policy proposals, budget requests, and community initiatives from the Councilmember’s office.

The full report can be viewed online here: https://bit.ly/SurveySaysReportPHL

The survey highlighted key systemic barriers, including:

• Lack of affordable workspace – Many artists cited difficulty securing studio or performance space, limiting their ability to create and showcase work.
• Limited funding opportunities – Grant accessibility and city funding remain primary concerns, with artists expressing challenges in navigating the existing support structures.
• Need for stronger institutional support – Respondents emphasized the importance of municipal and community-led initiatives to foster a more sustainable arts ecosystem.
• Comprehensive resources – Many artists reported confusion and inconsistency in finding resources and opportunities.

The panel discussion featured prominent voices from Philadelphia’s arts and culture sector, including Councilmember Rue Landau, Val Gay (Creative Philadelphia), Jane Golden (Mural Arts Philadelphia), and Rachel Zimmerman (InLiquid), among others. Moderated by artist and Arts & Culture Liaison Lauren Rinaldi, the conversation explored pathways to addressing these pressing concerns.

“The artist survey was conducted with Philadelphians and our city’s cultural sector in mind,” said Councilmember Rue Landau. “With the recent UArts closure and the changing landscape of our city, artists need our support now more than ever. We need to be the city that steps up to support our creatives.”

“Philadelphia’s creative communities are integral to Philadelphia’s vibrant culture,” said Chief Cultural Officer Val Gay. “It is so important to provide avenues like this survey to hear directly from artists on what challenges they are facing, so we can strategize how to offer the best possible resources.”

“To strengthen Philadelphia’s public art ecosystem, we must embrace collaboration, share resources, and learn from cities that are leading the way,” said Jane Golden, Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “This is a critical moment to act—through strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and transparency, we can amplify artists’ voices and reaffirm our city as a national leader in public art.”

“We commend Councilmember Rue Landau for her commitment to Philadelphia’s cultural community and for recognizing that artists and creatives are the lifeblood of our city,” said Patricia Wilson Aden, President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. “As the Cultural Alliance works alongside Creative Philadelphia, our partners, and the creative sector to shape supportive policies and a citywide Cultural Plan, feedback from individual artists is essential. Aligning this effort with the supportive leadership of Councilmember Landau and other elected officials is key to uplifting a vibrant, inclusive cultural ecosystem in Philadelphia.”

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About Councilmember Rue Landau
About Philadelphia City Council
About Philadelphia Museum of Art