How Citizens is energizing Pittsburgh's arts and culture revolution

Long known as the Steel City for its pivotal role in the U.S. steel industry, Pittsburgh today is in the midst of a revolution, establishing itself as an epicenter of arts and culture.

It was the steel industry that attracted diverse communities to Pittsburgh, each contributing to the city's rich cultural tapestry. As the national and local economy has evolved, Pittsburgh has transformed itself into a vibrant cultural hub, with institutions like the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Andy Warhol Museum, the August Wilson Center and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. The city continues its transformation into a hub for creativity and innovation, attracting young artists and entrepreneurs alike.

Citizens is proud to be part of the revolution. We're committed to driving impact in the cities where we live, work and play, and are proud to support Pittsburgh's growing arts and culture scene. This reflects our belief in the power of the arts to drive regional economic vitality, foster community pride and supports Pittsburgh as a competitive world-class city.

"We understand that investing in communities is essential to driving socioeconomic growth and creating lasting impact," says Monica Malik, Vice President Public Affairs Market Manager at Citizens. "Over the past two years, we've refined our strategy to align with the unique needs of the neighborhoods we serve, with a special focus on Pittsburgh's vibrant arts and culture scene. By fostering partnerships and supporting workforce development programs, we're helping to build stronger, more resilient communities and empowering individuals to thrive."

Over the past two years, we have built relationships and established partnerships with Pittsburgh's leading institutions and local entertainment venues. Together, we are working to support workforce initiatives that are spurring the creative economy, revitalizing the city's neighborhoods and investing in the city's next generation of artists.

Read on to learn more about Pittsburgh's arts and culture revolution and the impact of our partnership.

From the Steel City to the Pop District: Fueling the creative economy

While Andy Warhol made a big name for himself in New York, his hometown of Pittsburgh never forgot him. The Andy Warhol Museum is the largest single-artist museum in North America, housing the biggest collection of his works and materials.

The museum has led The Pop District initiative, named for the pop art movement for which Warhol is known. Six blocks within the museum’s neighborhood have been transformed into a cultural hub, complete with creative workforce development programs, tourist attractions, public art and live music.

The Warhol Academy provides workforce development programming, offering hands-on training for creative and technical jobs, such as filmmaking and digital content creation, led by practicing professionals in those areas. The program helps participants gain skills for and network within their desired professions.

Workforce development is a central component of our commitment to strengthening the communities where we work and live. That’s why we launched a partnership with the museum in 2023 to support The Warhol Academy. In 2024, we sponsored 2 cohorts of fellows within the academy and collaborated with those fellows on filmmaking, post-production and digital content creation to amplify community events across social media. This program is the manifestation of our commitment to strengthening the workforce.

In addition to workforce development, we’ve partnered with the Andy Warhol Museum on a summer concert series across the city and hosted panel discussions with community members and arts leaders. This spring, we hosted a workforce panel at the Warhol Museum with Bruce Van Saun, Chairman and CEO of Citizens, and Dr. Steven Knapp, President and CEO of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.

Moderated by artist and Workforce Director for CREATE PA, Morgan Overton, the discussion focused on creating a Pittsburgh that is a leading national player for the creative economy and hub for young artists and entrepreneurs.

Downtown Pittsburgh: Creating a hub of arts and culture

As the city continues to evolve, with new businesses attracting more locals and tourists to the area, downtown Pittsburgh has become a destination for arts and commerce. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP), a nonprofit started by businesses, community organizations and residents, aims to advance initiatives that improve downtown life. PDP hosts a variety of events, including a weekly farmers market, free yoga classes, live music and an annual pickle festival, playing a crucial role in fostering economic growth, urban revitalization and community building.

Seeing the rise of economic growth and culture, we announced a grant to support the PDP’s Downtown Placemaking Grant initiative. The placemaking grants will help provide resources and capital to up to 20 arts and cultural organizations to host pop-up events in downtown Pittsburgh.

The grant announcement coincided with the opening of our new downtown Pittsburgh corporate office. To celebrate, we hosted a community block party in partnership with PDP, featuring small businesses and musicians that showcased some of Pittsburgh’s talented artists, helping to increase our visibility and strengthen ties to the community. We are continuing this partnership into 2025.

Sounds of Giving: Inspiring the next generation of musical talent

The positive impact of the arts on a community extends beyond city sidewalks and into classrooms. When kids learn music, it's about more than just hitting the right notes. Music supports a student's overall education while giving them an outlet for creative expression. Yet many school music programs are underserved, underfunded or non-existent. Many elementary schools in Pittsburgh have lost music and art programs due to funding cuts.

In recognition of the importance of music education and fostering the next generation of Pittsburgh’s artists and musicians, we hosted the Sounds of Giving throughout the first half of December 2024. Our colleagues visited schools in the Downtown Pittsburgh, East Liberty, McKees Rocks, Hill District and Homestead areas, donating new instruments to fulfill the wish lists of 12 schools’ music programs. The effort aims to support the next generation of artists who will power Pittsburgh’s creative economy by giving students the chance to explore, nurture and develop their musical talents.

Through our support of community initiatives, music in schools and workforce training, we're proud to be part of Pittsburgh's arts and culture transformation. Learn about more ways we’re strengthening communities.