PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Philadelphia's expanding and maturing Creative Sector is at an important and critical juncture. Many public and private sector opinion makers, civic leaders, and elected officials agree that there is an opportunity in this emerging political climate to harness the energy of the Creative Sector to consolidate Philadelphia revitalization and create the conditions to drive the economy and the creative sector.

The Culture, Creativity and the City Town Hall Meeting at The Painted Bride Art Center on September 9th, 2007 from 5:30 - 7:30PM with a reception to follow is a free event during the Philadelphia Live Arts/Fringe Festival.

Culture, Creativity and the City Town Hall Meeting is an opportunity to discuss the cultural policy issues relevant to artists, cultural workers, community members, elected officials, youth, and others, to learn from the successes and failures of other cities and to help define our aspirations for the next administration for the creative sector.

This meeting is intended to draw together and build consensus in the cultural communities and creative sector about the key policies that the next mayoral administration may consider in terms of promising practices as they relate to the creative sector's principles. Its theme is centered on the connection of creative workers and city government.

Panelists are representatives from cities highlighted in the Rand Report, "Art in the Metropolis: Strategies for Sustainability":

Dr. Dwight D. Walth, D.M.A., Director of Grants Services and Community Initiatives, Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture

Dr. Erin Trapp, Director - Office of Art, Culture & Film - City of Denver

Randi Vega, Director of Cultural Affairs, Baltimore of Promotion and the Arts
The Culture, Creativity and the City Town Hall Meeting will be moderated by Cecelia Fitzgibbon, Director of Drexel University's Arts Administration Program, Drexel University. The sponsors of this event are The Samuel S. Fels Fund, William Penn Foundation, Independence Foundation, The Connelly Foundation, LINC Philadelphia, The Leeway Foundation, The Philadelphia Live Arts/Fringe Festival, and The Philadelphia Foundation. Special assistance for the event from Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Philagrafika, InLiquid, Studio Z Design, Moore College of Art and Design, Drexel University's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.