Region 3: Creative Sector Flex Fund

The Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts program operates as a decentralized funding initiative administered through regional partners in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Within this structure, the Community Giving Foundation serves as the designated Region 3 partner, responsible for regranting funds across Columbia, Lycoming, Sullivan, Bradford, and Tioga Counties. The overarching purpose of this partnership is to expand access to the arts, particularly in underserved communities, while fostering local decision-making and strengthening advocacy for public arts funding at both local and state levels. The program historically included the Creative Sector Flex Fund, which provided flexible financial support to arts organizations operating within the region. This fund was designed to support a wide variety of community-based arts activities, enabling organizations to respond to local needs and opportunities. Eligible activities generally encompassed programming, operations, and initiatives that broaden community participation in the arts. The fund emphasized inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity in programming, ensuring that arts opportunities reached a broad constituency across all participating counties. However, a significant programmatic shift is scheduled to occur beginning in the fiscal year spanning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The Creative Sector Flex Fund will be discontinued statewide and replaced by a new initiative known as the Creative Asset Program. This forthcoming program will provide direct and flexible funding support to small-to-mid-sized arts organizations with annual revenues between 100,000 and 2 million dollars. Unlike the previous regranting model, applicants will apply directly to Pennsylvania Creative Industries, reflecting a structural transition toward centralized administration. The transition is intended to align with Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ updated strategic framework, which prioritizes asset development, workforce development, community development, visibility, and policy advancement within the creative sector. The agency’s mission emphasizes empowering and connecting creative professionals and organizations while amplifying their contributions to the state’s economy and communities. The Creative Asset Program is expected to play a central role in achieving these objectives by providing more targeted and scalable funding opportunities. For the current fiscal year 2025-2026, the Creative Sector Flex Fund remains active, contingent upon the passage of the Commonwealth budget. Applicants who have submitted proposals for this cycle will receive further communication regarding application status, award decisions, and compliance requirements. Approved grantees will be required to adhere to reporting obligations, including the submission of final reports to the Community Giving Foundation by January 31, 2027, as outlined in grant agreements. The application and administration process involves coordination between applicants and regional partners, with specific contacts designated for program-related inquiries. Applicants are encouraged to direct questions regarding current applications to the Community Giving Foundation and broader programmatic questions to representatives from Pennsylvania Creative Industries. As the new Creative Asset Program guidelines are expected to be released in December 2025, prospective applicants are advised to monitor official communications and prepare for updated eligibility criteria and submission procedures.