WHEREAS, In 2015, Barbara Silzle, a passionate advocate for the arts and a veteran of Philadelphia’s nonprofit arts and philanthropy sectors, joined the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, the City’s flagship arts and culture granting operation, as its Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1991 to support and enhance the cultural life and vitality of the City of Philadelphia and its residents, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (“PCF”), through the combined efforts of City Council and the Mayor’s Office, promotes arts and culture as engines of individual and community expression and social, educational, and economic development, and has played a key stabilizing role for numerous organizations by providing much-needed general operating funding; and
WHEREAS, On July 15, 2022 Barbara Silzle, who previously led the Leeway Foundation, served on the Board of Directors of the Valentine Foundation and as Vice President of Lansdowne Borough Council, and worked for the University of the Arts, Freedom Theatre, Philadelphia Drama Guild, and Prince Music Theatre, will step down as Executive Director after seven years of vital leadership, in order to pursue other interests; and
WHEREAS,
Beginning early in her seven-year tenure, Barbara and her staff got to work strengthening relationships between PCF, the City, and the cultural sector, improving the Fund’s grant panel process, and increasing the number of small community-based organizations receiving essential financial support; and
WHEREAS, Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, PCF has been subject to significant annual proposed budget reductions, including an attempt to completely eliminate the Fund in Fiscal Year 2021; and
WHEREAS, In each of those budget cycles, including the current one, Barbara has led the way in restoring PCF funding, thus ensuring that our vibrant arts and culture sector is able to contribute to the rejuvenation of Philadelphia’s rich civic life after a long and difficult period of closures and restrictions. now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Does hereby recognize and congratulate Barbara Silzle for her years of dedicated, vital, and transformative leadership as Executive Director of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Barbara Silzle as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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