A joint project of PA Humanities, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and PA Museums

How has the pandemic impacted Pennsylvania's cultural sector?

In mid-2022, PA Humanities and its partners conducted the Pennsylvania Cultural Recovery & Regrowth Survey exploring COVID-19’s impact on the cultural sector and how organizations are supporting recovery and growth. 222 organizations from communities of all sizes across the state participated.

Together we learned that the cultural sector:

continues to be affected by the pandemic, especially revenue & attendance (performing arts was hit hardest)
creatively adapted, finding new ways to engage audiences/keep people connected
is not expecting normalcy until at least 2023
is embedded in our social fabric and sustains vital services and relationships
needs additional funding to fully recover

Explore our findings below >

"The pandemic demanded a kind of flexibility and adaptability that was previously hard to imagine, but [we] and many other arts institutions were able to transform challenges into opportunities."

[The cultural sector] pivoted and achieved newfound presences online, through virtual programming, virtual exhibitions, and social media. Many learned new ways to develop and produce content, and experimented with new forms of audience engagement. Lessons learned through these endeavors will no doubt serve organizations well now, and into the future."

"The longer-term effects of COVID continue to impact museums and the economy, in terms of staff shortages, a struggle to return to pre-COVID revenue levels, and a focus on survival rather than sustainability. "

-12%

Great Recession revenue decline
(2008-2010)

-34%

COVID-19 revenue decline
(2020-2022)

-13%

museum jobs (currently)

-24%

performing arts jobs (currently)

Cultural orgs continued to sustain important community relationships.

partner with community organizations

87%

partner with K-12 schools

65%

partner with parks or rec centers

47%

27% of organizations partner with Food Pantries, Community Gardens, Farmers Markets

When do they expect to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity?

How has their capacity changed?

Change in Capacity

Reduced Capacity (less programs/staff)

33

Normal Capacity (same programs/staff)

29

Increased Capacity (more programs/staff)

22

Modified Capacity or other (different programs/staff)

16

Museums / Historical sites employment impact

74% of surveyed organizations have budgets under $1.5 million.

Size of Organization

Under $150,000

61

$150,000 – $499,999

60

$500,000 – $1,499,999

43

$1,500,000 – $4,999,999

25

$5,000,000 – $9,999,999

12

$10,000,000 and above

12

N/A or unknown

9

Counties with Survey Participants

Participating Organizations

Participating Organizations	County	PA Region
Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust	Philadelphia	SE
Darlington Arts Center	Delaware	SE
Discovery Space of Central PA	Centre	NC
Fallingwater/WPC	Fayette	SW
Historical Society of Dauphin County	Dauphin	SC
Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens	Chester	SE
Landis Valley Associates	Lancaster	SC
Lantern Theater Company	Philadelphia	SE
Main Line Singers	Delaware	SE
Mt. Tabor Preservation Project	Cumberland	SC
Pa Historical and Museum Commission	Bucks	SE
St. Marys Public Library	Elk	NW
Sullivan County Historical Society’s Museum	Sullivan	NE
Three Aksha	Philadelphia	SE
ARTZ Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble	Columbia	NE
Brandywine Ballet	Chester	SE
Bucks County Historical Society	Bucks	SE
Little Lake Theatre Company	Washington	SW
South Central PaARTners at Millersville University	Lancaster	SC
Tempesta di Mare	Philadelphia	SE
Tredyffrin Township Libraries	Chester	SE
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History	Philadelphia	SE
Adams County Arts Council	Adams	SC
Andrew Carnegie Free Library	Allegheny	SW
Army Heritage Center Foundation	Cumberland	SC
Art of Recycle	Lancaster	SC
Astral Artists	Philadelphia	SE
Blair County Historical Society	Blair	SW
Cameron County Chamber of Commerce & Artisan Center	Cameron	NW
Carnegie Library of Homestead	Allegheny	SW
Chester County History Center	Chester	SE
Da Vinci Art Alliance	Philadelphia	SE
Exchange Arts, d.b.a. The Exchange	Columbia	NE
Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation	Philadelphia	SE
Frick Art & Historical Center	Allegheny	SW
Gettysburg Foundation	Adams	SC
Hagan History Center	Erie	NW
Hydrosteel LLC	Philadelphia	SE
Lemoyne Community Center	Washington	SW
Longwood Gardens	Chester	SE
Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity	Northampton	NE
Mennonite Heritage Center	Montgomery	SE
Montgomery County Community College	Montgomery	SE
Moravian Historical Society	Northampton	NE
Music at Gretna dba Gretna Music	Lebanon	SC
Musicopia, Inc.	Philadelphia	SE
Norris Square Neighborhood Project	Philadelphia	SE
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Inc.	Washington	SW
Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm	Monroe	NE
Shawnee Services dba Shawnee Playhouse	Monroe	NE
The Clay Studio	Philadelphia	SE
The Frick Pittsburgh	Allegheny	SW
National Civil War Museum	Dauphin	SC
The Philly POPS	Philadelphia	SE
Theatre Exile	Philadelphia	SE
Uptown!Entertainment Alliance	Chester	SE
WHYY	Philadelphia	SE
Wilma Theater	Philadelphia	SE
1812 Productions	Philadelphia	SE
3 Dots Downtown	Centre	NC
Abington Art Center	Montgomery	SE
African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc	Philadelphia	SE
American Philosophical Society	Philadelphia	SE
AMLA at Esperanza	Philadelphia	SE
Anna Crusis Feminist Choir	Philadelphia	SE
Arcade Comedy Theater	Allegheny	SW
Arden Theatre Company	Philadelphia	SE
Arts Holding Hands and Hearts	Chester	SE
Artvolution Cultural Innovation Project	Philadelphia	SE
ArtWell	Philadelphia	SE
Assemble	Allegheny	SW
Association for the Colonial Theatre	Chester	SE
Aurora Classical of Culture Trust Greater Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
Awbury Arboretum Association, Inc.	Philadelphia	SE
Azuka Theatre	Philadelphia	SE
Barnes Foundation	Philadelphia	SE
Borough of Union City	Erie	NW
Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center	Cambria	SW
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center	Lehigh	NE
Bradford House Historical Association	Washington	SW
Broad Street Review	Philadelphia	SE
Bucks County Childrens Museum	Bucks	SE
Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls	Beaver	SW
Central PA Friends of Jazz	Dauphin	SC
Centro de Cultura Arte Trabajo y Educacion	Philadelphia	SE
Centro Nueva Creacion	Philadelphia	SE
Christ Church Preservation Trust	Philadelphia	SE
Circadium	Philadelphia	SE
Circle Legacy Center	Lancaster	SC
City of Pittsburgh	Allegheny	SW
Clearfield County Historical Society	Clearfield	NW
Cliveden of the National Trust, Inc	Philadelphia	SE
Commonwealth Youthchoirs	Philadelphia	SE
Community Arts Center	Delaware	SE
Community Music School of Collegeville	Montgomery	SE
Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts	Philadelphia	SE
Delaware Dancers/ Hanna Q Dance Company	Pike	NE
Demuth Foundation	Lancaster	SC
DreamWrights Center for Community Arts	York	SC
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc.	Philadelphia	SE
Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion	Philadelphia	SE
Erie Art Museum	Erie	NW
Erie Playhouse	Erie	NW
Esperanza Arts Center	Philadelphia	SE
Farm Arts Collective	Wayne	NE
Fayette County Cultural Trust	Fayette	SW
Fidget	Philadelphia	SE
Fleisher Art Memorial	Philadelphia	SE
Gettysburg Brass Band Festival	Adams	SC
Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater	Adams	SC
Glen Foerd	Philadelphia	SE
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance	Philadelphia	SE
Greater Philadelphia Film Office	Philadelphia	SE
Greater York Dance	York	SC
Group Motion Multi Media Dance Theater	Philadelphia	SE
G-Town Radio	Philadelphia	SE
Hamlin Memorial Library	McKean	NW
Harrisburg Symphony Association	Dauphin	SC
Haverford Township Historical Society	Delaware	SE
Heritage Local LLC	Philadelphia	SE
Historic Fallsington, Inc.	Bucks	SE
Historic Harmony Inc	Butler	SW
Historic Sugartown, Inc.	Chester	SE
Historic Yellow Springs	Chester	SE
Historical Society of Berks County dba Berks History Center	Berks	SC
Historical Society of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	SE
Hornby School Restoration Society	Erie	NW
Hummelstown Area Historical Society	Dauphin	SC
Independence Seaport Museum	Philadelphia	SE
Independence Visitor Center Corporation	Philadelphia	SE
Inis Nua Theatre Company	Philadelphia	SE
InLiquid	Philadelphia	SE
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)	Philadelphia	SE
InterAct Theatre Company	Philadelphia	SE
International House Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
Jazz Bridge Project, Inc.	Philadelphia	SE
Johnstown Area Heritage Associaiton	Cambria	SW
JUNK	Philadelphia	SE
Kelly Strayhorn Theater	Allegheny	SW
Kimmel Cultural Campus	Philadelphia	SE
Knox Public Library	Clarion	NW
Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble	Philadelphia	SE
Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (KYL/D)	Philadelphia	SE
La Fiocco	Bucks	SE
Lawrence County Historical Society	Lawrence	SW
Lehigh Valley Films	Lehigh	NE
Lenape Chamber Ensemble	Bucks	SE
Lewisburg Children’s Museum	Union	NC
Literacy Council of Norristown	Montgomery	SE
Literacy Council of Southwestern PA	Washington	SW
Mann Center for the Performing Arts	Philadelphia	SE
Mattress Factory	Allegheny	SW
Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
Mighty Writers	Philadelphia	SE
Monongahela Area Library	Washington	SW
Monroe County Historical Association	Monroe	NE
Montgomery County Chorale and Orchestra	Montgomery	SE
Moore College of Art & Design	Philadelphia	SE
Museum of the American Revolution	Philadelphia	SE
National Liberty Museum	Philadelphia	SE
Network for New Music	Philadelphia	SE
North Wales Area Library	Montgomery	SE
Opera Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
PA Humanities Council	Philadelphia	SE
PACSCL	Bucks	SE
Palisades Community Chorus	Bucks	SE
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA)	Philadelphia	SE
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society	Philadelphia	SE
Pennsylvania Philharmonic	Montgomery	SE
People’s Light	Chester	SE
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society	Philadelphia	SE
Philadelphia Dance Projects	Philadelphia	SE
Philadelphia Museum of Art	Philadelphia	SE
Philadelphia Sculptors	Philadelphia	SE
Philadelphia Sketch Club	Philadelphia	SE
Philadelphia Watercolor Society	Chester	SE
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens	Philadelphia	SE
Pickleberry Pie, Inc.	Montgomery	SE
Pig Iron Theatre Company	Philadelphia	SE
Play On Philly	Philadelphia	SE
Please Touch Museum	Philadelphia	SE
Pocono Mountains Music Festival	Monroe	NE
Pottstown Dance Theatre	Chester	SE
Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library	Northumberland	NC
Project 440	Philadelphia	SE
Project Capoeira Inc	Philadelphia	SE
Reimagine Everett	Bedford	SW
Rhonda DiMascio, Executive Director	Philadelphia	SE
River City Brass	Allegheny	SW
Samek Art Museum, Bucknell University	Union	NC
Science History Institute	Philadelphia	SE
Scribe Video Center	Philadelphia	SE
Shakespeare in Clark Park	Philadelphia	SE
Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library	Northumberland	NC
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc.	Allegheny	SW
Susanna W. Gold, PhD	Delaware	SE
The Articulate Foundation	Philadelphia	SE
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
The Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
The Franklin Institute	Philadelphia	SE
The Galleries at Moore	Philadelphia	SE
The Gallery at New Bethlehem Town Center	Clarion	NW
The Philadelphia Artists’ Collective	Philadelphia	SE
The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!)	Philadelphia	SE
The Print Center	Philadelphia	SE
The Rock School for Dance Education	Philadelphia	SE
Theatre Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
Trinity Memorial Church	Philadelphia	SE
Tuscarora Lapidary Society	Delaware	SE
Twelve Gates Arts	Philadelphia	SE
Vox Populi	Philadelphia	SE
VoxAmaDeus	Montgomery	SE
Warren County Historical Society	Warren	NW
Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival	Westmoreland	SW
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	SE
WXPN	Philadelphia	SE
Wyck Association	Philadelphia	SE
Wyoming County Cultural Center, Inc.	Wyoming	NE
Yes! And… Collaborative Arts	Philadelphia	SE
Reading Theater Project	Berks	SC

A joint project of PA Humanities, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and PA Museums

How has the pandemic impacted Pennsylvania's cultural sector?

In mid-2022, PA Humanities and its partners conducted the Pennsylvania Cultural Recovery & Regrowth Survey exploring COVID-19’s impact on the cultural sector and how organizations are supporting recovery and growth. 222 organizations from communities of all sizes across the state participated.

Together we learned that the cultural sector:

continues to be affected by the pandemic, especially revenue & attendance (performing arts was hit hardest)

creatively adapted, finding new ways to engage audiences/keep people connected

is not expecting normalcy until at least 2023

is embedded in our social fabric and sustains vital services and relationships

needs additional funding to fully recover