WXPN World Cafe Live Partnership Highlighted in Official Report on City of Philadelphia’s Creative Community Mayor Michael Nutter, Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Announce Philadelphia's Creative Sector 70% Stronger than National

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Created on Monday, 20 December 2010 12:31

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - WXPN, the nationally-recognized leader in Triple A (Adult Album Alternative) music and noncommercial radio service of the University of Pennsylvania, is featured as one of Philadelphia's most creative innovators for its professional partnership with World Cafe Live, Philadelphia's groundbreaking music performance venue. The partnership is profiled in the City's Creative Vitality in Philadelphia: A Three Year Index: 2006-2008 which was released today by Mayor Michael Nutter and The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy during a press conference.

The report examines Philadelphia's creative community as a whole and presents the Creative Vitality Index (CVI), an annual measure of the relative growth of the city's creative sector. The WXPN/World Cafe Live partnership represents one of five creative innovators who are profiled for their contributions to Philadelphia’s creative community, and is the only music-focused portrait.

"This partnership is truly one of Philadelphia's unique cultural assets", said WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay. "Our partnership with World Cafe Live has allowed us to significantly enhance our music service to artists and audiences. Since joining forces in 2004, we've launched the Free At Noon concert series, expanded our commitment to local musicians and grown our community partnerships. Of course, we couldn’t have done any of this without the support of the WXPN community".

Additional businesses and individuals profiled in the report include NextFab Studio, a personal fabrication laboratory in the Science Center; Jorge Cousineau, an independent theatrical designer; DesignPhiladelphia, the largest design festival in the country; and Globe Dye Works, a former textile manufacturing site-turned creative compound.

Philadelphia's CVI is listed at 70 percent stronger than the nation as a whole, and it increased by 7 percent from 2006 to 2008. The report also establishes a baseline for the measurement of Philadelphia's creative industries, including 17,699 creative jobs in 36 categories such as the visual and performing arts, design, media and architecture.

"The fact that our CVI score is 70 percent higher than the national benchmark is a testament to the talent of our creative workers and businesses," said Chief Cultural Officer Gary Steuer. "This research tool will help us support the growth of a dynamic creative community that produces jobs and spurs economic growth in the Philadelphia region."

The venture between WXPN and World Cafe Live is a unique collaboration between a for-profit entertainment facility and a non-profit public radio station. The partnership stemmed from a shared commitment to provide music lovers with an exceptional listening experience and is an example of a successful, sustainable relationship that has thrived during a tumultuous time for the music and entertainment industries.

The report was made possible with support from the William Penn Foundation. Creative Vitality Index and CVI are trademarks of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF). To download Creative Vitality in Philadelphia: A Three Year Index: 2006-2008, please visit www.phila.gov/arts.