Philadelphia Orchestra Assistant Conductor Erina Yashima leads a recent “Digital Stage” concert recorded at the Mann Center. Photo by Jeff Fusco
“Two major backers of arts and culture in Philadelphia have teamed up to award $8 million in COVID-19-related relief for the sector,” writes Peter Dobrin in Wednesday’s (12/2) Philadelphia Inquirer. “The $4 million each from Philadelphia’s William Penn Foundation and the New York-based Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will be distributed to a cross-section of area arts groups—large and small…. The Philadelphia Orchestra and Barnes Foundation are receiving $400,000 each…. The arts-funding package going to 37 groups is the most recent assembled by William Penn since March…. There are no restrictions on how the money may be spent…. The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society will use its $200,000 to continue streaming concerts, pay musicians, and to get through the year without a deficit…. Earlier this year, the William Penn, Doris Duke, and other foundations contributed toward a COVID relief fund that was distributed to hundreds of Philadelphia arts groups and more than a thousand individual artists. On the horizon is a partnership of William Penn, the Ford Foundation, and others that aims to award a total of $10 million to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) arts groups…. More details on the program are expected by February.”
