PNC Jolts Local Arts Scene with PNC ARTS ALIVE, a $5 Million Funding Program

What’s more positive than a Bank’s foundation funding 23 different Philadelphia and South Jersey arts organizations this year to the tune of $1 million in a down economy? The Bank is PNC and Simon PR is lucky to have worked with the philanthropic corporate leader since 2000. Pinch me!

“PNC opens the vault for 23 arts groups.” That’s the headline on Philadelphia Inquirer arts writer Stephen Salisbury’s article in yesterday‘s paper. It’s our job in this enviable partnership to draw mass media coverage of PNC Arts Alive, the monumental five year $5 million program. Thanks to longtime Simon PR media relations ace Beverly Volpe, there was a deluge of local market TV, radio and print coverage in the last 24 hours. What better way to let the entire Region know about this positive endeavor?

Our media blitz came a few months after PNC Arts Alive was introduced to the market in April. Arts groups submitted their applications in June. Yesterday’s festivities were in celebration of the 23 winning groups and their projects, all designed to make art more accessible to wider and more diverse audiences in our Region.

In an arty public ceremony in the lobby of the PNC tower at 1600 Market Street, representatives of the arts groups were called to a dais and awarded berets by PNC President Bill Mills. A lovely, intimate luncheon in the Bank’s event facility followed.

“It’s hard to know where PNC begins and Simon PR ends, they’re such wonderful partners and I’d like to recognize and thank Lisa Simon and Beverly Volpe from Simon PR.” Those words spoken at the podium by PNC Chief of Staff Jean Canfield will resonate with me for a very long time. I’m still choked up. For a small agency that thrives behind-the-scenes, this is a big slice of positive pie for us to relish for a very long time. We wholeheartedly welcome the opportunity to support this great company and the creative, dynamic individuals at the helm who have created PNC Arts Alive. They are positively impacting our community in Philadelphia and South Jersey in ways too numerous to measure. But, of course, we will try. . . –Lisa Simon

2009 PNC Arts Live Grantees:

Arts Groups

Appel Farm Arts & Music Center
Bay Atlantic Symphony
Cape May Stage
Fabric Workshop and Museum
Greater Philadelphia Film Office
Group Motion Dance Theater
James A. Michener Art Museum
Kimmel Center
Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts
Mural Arts Program
Pennsylvania Ballet
Philadelphia Folklore Project
Philadelphia Live Arts Festival/Philly Fringe
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and The Pam Band
Philadelphia Young Playwrights
Spiral Q Puppet Theater
Wilma Theater

Service Partners:

Art & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
City of Philadelphia, Office of Arts and Culture and the Creative Economy
South Jersey Cultural Alliance