Powering Pittsburgh's creative future: Citizens and Warhol Academy invest in the city's workforce

Over the past three years, Citizens has proudly partnered with The Pop District — a six-block cultural hub led by The Andy Warhol Museum — to sponsor and support The Warhol Academy Fellowship. This highly coveted program offers young professionals immersive training in digital content creation, filmmaking and post-production.

Since becoming the program's largest corporate supporter, Citizens has helped fuel a powerful track record of success. In 2024 alone, 173 fellows completed training, with 97% finding employment post-graduation and earning an average annual income of $47,000. The program's commitment to inclusion is especially notable: 78% of participants come from underrepresented groups, including BIPOC (61%), LGBTQIA+ (32%) and immigrant (7%) creatives — well above Pittsburgh metro averages.

This impact underscores a central belief at Citizens: Workforce development and cultural enrichment go hand-in-hand. As the creator economy expands nationally, localized programs like The Warhol Academy ensure Pittsburgh is a leader in arts, culture and community-based economic growth.

Building a pathway for creators

What began as a shared goal to strengthen Pittsburgh's workforce and cultural infrastructure has evolved into a model for creative career development. Through hands-on training and industry collaboration, the Warhol Academy Fellowship is opening doors for the next generation of content creators.

Following the partnership's inaugural year in 2023, Citizens sponsored two cohorts of fellows, collaborating with them on filmmaking, post-production, digital content creation and community event social media amplification. Fellows receive mentorship from seasoned professionals, contribute to real client projects and join a vibrant alumni network that continues to grow and thrive across Pittsburgh.

One standout story is that of Alejandro Jimenez, a fall 2021 Warhol Academy alumnus who now works full-time at Warhol Creative, The Andy Warhol Museum's in house production group. Jimenez joined the program's pilot cohort, drawn to the unique opportunity to blend art and filmmaking. From the beginning, he valued the emphasis on collaboration and mentorship.

"Learning by doing and collaborating is key in the filmmaking process," he said. "I was able to see [the program] take shape. Since I was hired, my skills have been enhanced exponentially. The growth I've seen — both in myself and my peers — has been incredible."

Today, Jimenez helps lead projects that span pre-production, production and post-production. He delivers over 100 content pieces annually and has worked on award-winning campaigns. Perhaps even more powerful is the sense of community and career momentum The Warhol Academy Fellowship fosters.

"The network keeps expanding. Everybody has different backgrounds and skill levels. It's always nice to see how their experiences influence what they do after their season is over. I still stay in touch with some of the people who have been through the program."

This ongoing connection creates a powerful peer support system that fosters continued collaboration, referrals and shared resources within the local creative scene in Pittsburgh.

A platform for progress

Through its partnership with The Warhol Academy, Citizens is enabling new pathways to employment, artistic growth and economic resilience. And the reach goes well beyond the classroom.

The Pop District hosted 18 events with over 17,000 engagements, drawing more than 3,000 in-house participants and showcasing the work of 60 local vendors in 2024. Many of these events showcased work by alumni of the Warhol Academy Fellowship Program and allow the wider community to engage with fresh perspectives, building cultural appreciation and civic pride.

As the creator economy becomes a defining force in today's job market, programs like this are helping communities like Pittsburgh stay competitive while preserving the city's unique cultural identity. With platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram shaping careers, digital fluency is more essential than ever. The Warhol Academy is enabling young creatives to turn online content into real-world opportunity. By equipping young professionals with the tools, confidence and connections they need, the Citizens-Warhol Academy partnership is helping them shape their careers and the city's future.

"It's very important to have spaces for creatives to share their knowledge and skills," Jimenez said. "This develops an active network that nourishes the creative economy, which creates a more stable environment to stay in Pittsburgh and not be pushed out to bigger cities. The Andy Warhol Museum is building a bridge between working artists and job opportunities. I think Citizens' support sets an example when it comes to trusting in the importance of a creative economy for the cultural development of a city."

At Citizens, we view arts and culture not only as the foundation of strong communities but as powerful engines of economic growth. Partnerships like the one between us and Warhol Academy will remain essential to helping local creators stay, grow and thrive — right in Pittsburgh.