New Head of Arts and Culture Appointed; Millions in Grants Announced for Philadelphia
Christina Vassallo has been appointed as the new executive director of the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, effective January 5, 2024. This transition marks a significant shift, as Vassallo previously served as the head of the Fabric Workshop and Museum, where she successfully secured a number of substantial grants from the Pew entity during her tenure.
The Pew Center, known for its dual role as both a grantmaker and an intellectual hub for the arts in Philadelphia, is integral to the city’s cultural ecosystem. Vassallo expressed enthusiasm for this new role, highlighting her commitment to advancing arts leadership, supporting artists, and connecting the arts with civic purpose. Her appointment has garnered attention within Philadelphia’s arts community, reflecting the Pew center’s influence alongside the William Penn Foundation, which together account for substantial charitable contributions in the area.
In a timely announcement, Pew revealed it recently awarded .6 million to 44 Philadelphia-area arts organizations. This funding includes nearly 0,000 allocated to the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra for a project focused on Black women composers, and 0,000 earmarked for Monument Lab to develop environmental soundworks celebrating Philadelphia’s avian life. Other beneficiaries include prominent institutions such as Mural Arts Philadelphia, Philadanco, and various theater companies and museums.
Vassallo replaces Paula Marincola, who retired after leading the Pew Center for 15 years. Following her departure from the Fabric Workshop, Vassallo took the reins at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati and has a background that includes leadership roles at the alternative art gallery SPACES in Cleveland. She holds degrees from New York University, where she studied art history and nonprofit visual arts management.
As Vassallo steps into her new role, she faces several challenges confronting Philadelphia’s arts scene, including lingering attendance issues post-COVID-19 and cutbacks in federal funding. The Pew Center’s operational landscape has also changed significantly following the closure of the University of the Arts, its former operational partner, which was replaced by the Barnes Foundation.
The restructuring of leadership involves adjustments in reporting lines; Vassallo will report to Thomas Collins, executive director of the Barnes Foundation, a departure from Marincola’s previous direct oversight by Pew. Vassallo is optimistic about potential collaborations that could emerge from this evolution.
While acknowledging the challenges ahead, Vassallo remains committed to nurturing the next generation of art enthusiasts and ensuring equitable access to the arts for all youth. She will engage in ongoing assessments of feedback from grantees and external stakeholders while determining future funding priorities. According to Vassallo, creating new business models and innovative approaches to engage audiences will be crucial in navigating the arts landscape.
For a complete list of Pew’s latest grants to art and culture groups, visit pewcenterarts.org/2025grants.
