Eastbound on the Amtrak Keystone Corridor …
Philadelphia was rated by Travel + Leisure Magazine readers in the “American’s Favorite Cities” survey as the top city in the nation for culture. This ranking is improved from being rated as No. 10 in 2010.
In a recent report, the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy noted that Philadelphia currently has the fifth fastest growing creative sector in the nation, and the city’s creative sector ranking is 70 percent stronger than national benchmarks.
“You know you live in a great city when you’re rated number one for cultural amenities as well as for being ‘sport-crazed’,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Philadelphia is a diverse city with many cultural assets that visitors and tourists appreciate when traveling to our city. It is these institutions that help make our city a place of choice for so many residents and businesses. I’d also like to encourage Philadelphians to go out and appreciate the world-class cultural assets such as the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Orchestra, history, theaters, music venues and other creative institutions offering events everyday.”
Mayor Nutter re-established the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy in 2009. Since its opening, the office has established an open-to-the-public art gallery in City Hall, an expansion of the Art in City Hall initiative, which presents art exhibitions by professional, student and emerging Philadelphia artists. The office also collaborates with the Greater Philadelphia arts community to host innovative events such as the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts and DesignPhiladelphia, which generate a significant economic benefit to the city.
In addition, Philadelphia was also rated as No. 3 city for “Food, Drink and Restaurants” and a top-five city for shopping.
Arts on Union and the studio of artist Christine Goldbeck are just a lovely and pleasant train ride away from Philly. Via the Keystone Corridor, you can travel through lovely countryside, stop in downtown Lancaster to visit the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and then head to Middletown and Harrisburg, home to a lively arts and cultural community.