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WHEREAS, in 2005, Mitch Swain became the founding CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Since then, he has helped to secure millions of dollars in private and public arts funds for the region; and,
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WHEREAS, Mr. Swain's efforts helped to defeat the planned defunding of the PA Council on the Arts in 2009; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Swain served on the board of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania for 13 years until 2020, and he served as the Board Chair from 2010 to 2018; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Swain's advocacy and efforts helped lead to the formation of the bicameral, bipartisan Pennsylvania Arts & Cultural Legislative Caucus in 2012; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Swain coordinated with other local arts organizations to create an art exhibition on London's South Bank in 2019. "Pittsburgh Art on the Bank" ran from June 2nd-9th, 2019, and featured artwork from various Pittsburgh artists to show Pittsburgh's cultural value; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Swain's advocacy brought the Governor's Awards for the Arts ceremony to Pittsburgh in 2019. The event honored the year's award recipients, and it marked the first time since 1997 that Pittsburgh was the hosting city; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Swain led the Arts Council's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing the distribution of more than $200,000 in grant money to independent artists experiencing losses in income; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Swain was a part of the statewide advocacy effort to bring $15 million in American Rescue Plan funding to artists and arts and cultural organizations in the near future; and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Swain will retire from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council on June 1, 2023, after over 17 years of service.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does recognize and thank Mr. Mitch Swain for his leadership and advocacy as CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and his dedicated service to the arts community in Pittsburgh; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the C...
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