Region 3: Creative Sector Flex Fund

The Community Giving Foundation, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), is responsible for administering the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) program in Region 3, which includes Columbia, Lycoming, Sullivan, Bradford, and Tioga Counties. The PPA is a statewide initiative designed to decentralize state arts funding and make it accessible to a broad and diverse constituency across all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. It works through regional partners like the Community Giving Foundation, which regrants PCA funds to support local arts initiatives. The goals of the PPA program include expanding access to the arts, fostering community-based decision-making in funding distribution, and increasing advocacy for the arts at state and local levels. Through this partnership, the Community Giving Foundation has administered the Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF), a program that provides flexible financial support to creative organizations across Region 3. The CSFF was established to empower small and mid-sized arts entities and enable them to address specific operational, programmatic, or strategic needs. Grants through this fund have historically allowed organizations to sustain or enhance their community engagement and creative offerings, reflecting the PCA’s mission to support a vibrant arts infrastructure throughout the state. However, as of Fiscal Year 2026–27 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), the Creative Sector Flex Fund will be discontinued across Pennsylvania. In its place, Pennsylvania Creative Industries — a new identity for PCA — will launch the Creative Asset Program. This successor program will provide direct funding support to small-to-mid-sized arts organizations with average annual revenues between $100,000 and $2 million. Unlike the CSFF, which involved regional partners for fund disbursement, the Creative Asset Program will be managed centrally by Pennsylvania Creative Industries, with applications submitted directly through their channels. Guidelines for this program will be available in December 2025, allowing organizations sufficient time to prepare for the transition. Current CSFF applicants for FY 2025–26 are not affected by the upcoming discontinuation. Applications and awards for this final cycle will proceed as planned, contingent upon the approval of the Commonwealth’s budget. Grant agreements for FY 2025–26 will detail all required final reporting materials and deadlines. Specifically, all grantees will be required to submit their final reports to the Community Giving Foundation by January 31, 2027. This transition period ensures continuity for organizations currently reliant on the CSFF and provides ample notice for planning ahead. For those with questions about the current CSFF application process for FY 2025–26, Karri Harter at the Community Giving Foundation is the designated contact. Broader inquiries about the CSFF program may be directed to Amanda Lovell, Director of Access to the Creative Sector at PA Creative Industries. Questions regarding the new Creative Asset Program should be addressed to Ian Rosario, Director of Arts Organizations and Arts Programs and Grant Liaison. These contacts ensure a direct line of communication for organizations during this transitional funding period. The shift from the CSFF to the Creative Asset Program reflects the broader strategic realignment undertaken by Pennsylvania Creative Industries. The agency has recently redefined its mission to better empower and connect creatives statewide, focusing on five core areas: asset development, workforce development, community development, visibility, and policy. These priorities underscore the state’s vision of positioning Pennsylvania as a national leader in creative industries and arts-based community development. Organizations interested in staying informed about new opportunities are encouraged to monitor the Pennsylvania Creative Industries website and subscribe for updates, particularly as new guidelines become available later in 2025.