Temple alum are all over the Philadelphia art scene! Last April, Temple Alum Gabi Sanchez took over the role of Executive Director of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. The Fund is a nonprofit founded in 1991 by the mayoral office of Philadelphia, whose mission "is to provide funds to enhance the cultural life and vitality of the City of Philadelphia and its residents." Since 1994, it has been the main distributor of city funds to art projects and organizations, and to date has givn out more than 54 million dollars to the Philadelphia art and culture sector.

Sanchez, who graduated with a BA in Theater in 2012, says that it’s a “full-circle moment.”  

A North-Philly native, Gabi Sanchez founded Power Street Theater with Erlina Ortiz while they were finishing their degrees at Temple. They did this with a mix of their own funds, as well as financial support from the Philadelphia Cultural Fund itself. It’s been a decade since that moment, and Temple will be hosting the world-premiere of the new musical Siluetas as part of their 10th anniversary season. 

When speaking to Billy Penn about her new position, she said “This is part of the change that needs to happen, for young people to see a Latina in the world of philanthropy, especially in the arts.” She hopes to create initiatives that connect art and public safety, and to make the application process more accessible to Spanish-speaking artists. 

Congratulations, Gabi! You can read more about her journey, and where she hopes to go next, here!