Connecting Campus, Community and What’s Next in the Performing Arts

Penn Live Arts is at the center of a pivotal moment for the arts at the University of Pennsylvania. With the opening of the Platt Student Performing Arts Center, the integration of Irvine Auditorium and the future addition of the Stuart Weitzman Theatre, we have an extraordinary opportunity to expand what the performing arts can mean for Penn and Philadelphia. By connecting campus and community, championing artistic innovation and expanding access to transformative artistic experiences, Penn Live Arts is creating one of the country's most ambitious performing arts ecosystems.

This strategic plan reflects a year of collaboration and bold thinking, bringing together staff, advisors, University partners, artists, audiences and community stakeholders to imagine what’s possible. It builds on our unique role as presenter, educator, venue operator, partner and cultural convener, with a focus on investing in artists and new work, strengthening connections across Penn and Philadelphia, expanding organizational capacity and building long-term financial sustainability. At its heart, however, this plan is centered on people: the artists who challenge and inspire us, the students who discover new possibilities, and the audiences who come together across backgrounds and perspectives. At a moment when connection, dialogue and shared experiences are more necessary than ever, Penn Live Arts will deepen its impact, enriching the cultural life of Penn and Philadelphia while helping shape the future of the performing arts.