To:  The Philadelphia Arts Community

As many of you may know, in the past year, Independence Foundation has taken a step back from some of its arts funding to reflect on our contributions to the Philadelphia arts community, our grantmaking priorities, and how we can best support you in the near future.  Amid ongoing uncertainty in the national economy, we have needed to make very difficult funding choices. Our board and staff have given much thought to how we can be most responsive and effective in this current climate. As a result, I am writing to share our plans regarding some changes in our arts funding initiative with you.

For many years, Independence Foundation has supported the arts in Philadelphia across multiple disciplines and has both learned from and benefited from the experience and the relationships we cultivated. We have provided general operating, project and capital grants to a wide variety of arts groups.  Continuation of this comprehensive arts funding is no longer possible in the current economic climate.  We believe that sustained investments in specific artistic endeavors have a significant impact and therefore we are refocusing our arts funding.  With this perspective, Independence Foundation has decided to concentrate on strategic investments in area theatre groups.  In addition to making general operating grants, we will launch our New Theatre Works Initiative, a three-year pilot program to encourage the development and production of new theatrical work in the Philadelphia region.

Independence Foundation will continue to support many of the larger cultural institutions in the region, such as the Free Library, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Mural Arts Program, as well as multidisciplinary performing arts presenters such as the Mann Center and the Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe.  These organizations have contributed to both the economy and the cultural vibrancy of the Philadelphia area.

We also believe that the well being of our entire community is broadened by supporting a variety of opportunities for all people to experience the arts.  Programs that support the arts and artists, such as the Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the Nonprofit Finance Fund, the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, and ArtReach will continue to be of special interest to Independence Foundation.

As part of our commitment to recognize and support work by artists across the Philadelphia region, we will continue to fund individual artists in both the performing and visual arts through our Fellowships in the Arts program.  Many of you have graciously helped us over the past decade to make this program an enormous success, and we sincerely hope that you will continue to assist us by nominating artists for fellowships.

For the next three years as we refocus our grantmaking, we will not be funding community-based arts groups, including community arts centers, dance companies, music organizations, media arts/broadcasting agencies, museums and historical societies.

In making the decision to refocus our funding priorities, Independence Foundation carefully considered its history and relationships within the regional arts scene. We believe that art plays a transformative role in society – one that enhances community and connects individuals. We value the work of all Philadelphia's artists and arts organizations, in particular our current and past grantees, and know that it is your passion, talent, and energy that bring about transformation.

We are deeply grateful to you for your invaluable contributions to our stellar artistic community.  Thank you very much for all you have done.  Best wishes for your continued success.