| July 18, 2008 – This afternoon Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed an Executive Order creating the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. Gary Steuer, formerly Vice President of the New York based non-profit Americans for the Arts, was appointed as Chief Cultural Officer. Mr. Steuer will formally start with the Administration in October.
“After an exhaustive national search, I am tremendously pleased to have Gary Steuer join my Administration,” said Mayor Nutter. “His experience both as an arts manager and as an arts advocate will give him a unique perspective on how to best grow the arts community – an important step to creating a healthier and more vibrant Philadelphia.”
The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will be housed in the Mayor’s Office. The office will be tasked with:
- Improving access to the arts for both residents and visitors
- Expanding arts education for young people
- Overseeing all the City’s arts programs
- Supporting the growth and development of the City’s arts, culture and creative economy sector, by promoting public and private investment in the creative economy sector
- Coordinating with relevant City agencies to unify the City’s arts efforts
- Serving as a liaison between the City’s many cultural institutions
"I am thrilled by the opportunity the Mayor has provided me to work with him, his team and the great arts and civic leaders of Philadelphia to serve this City,” said Gary Steuer. “With the growing recognition of the importance of the arts in workforce development, business attraction and retention, community revitalization, civic engagement, and tourism, it is more important than ever that cities integrate the arts into City programs and policies. Mayor Nutter understands this and I look forward to serving him and the people of Philadelphia."
The Executive Order also re-established the Cultural Advisory Council which will serve to advise the Mayor and Administration officials on issues relating to arts and culture. Mayor Nutter appointed Joe Kluger as head of the Council. Mr. Kluger is currently an Associate Principal at the arts consulting firm WolfBrown. He previously worked with the Philadelphia Orchestra and has served on other regional arts boards such as the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Arts and Business Council of Philadelphia, and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.
The Mayor asks members of the arts community interested in serving on the Council to submit their resume. |
