Peta Beadle, a receptionist in the Perelman Surgicentre, took her seven-year-old son, KJ, to a concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center. “It was KJ’s first time attending an orchestra performance and the experience was a lot of fun. KJ got to dress up as Spider-Man and engage with the other kids singing and dancing,” Beadle said. “KJ was hesitant at first, but he opened up during the show and loved it.”
They’re all taking advantage of Penn Medicine’s Philadelphia Cultural Pass, which launched in July. The program is opening doors and saving seats for Penn Medicine employees at five of Philadelphia’s most prominent arts institutions: the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Kimmel Center, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Employees can obtain tickets at little to no cost to catch live performances or take in amazing exhibits. So far, over 1,500 employees have received tickets to the various cultural institutions!
“There’s been a great response to the program,” said Brandon Grant, administrative fellow in Corporate Services, who is overseeing the Philadelphia Cultural Pass. “We’re really pleased that it has taken off so quickly. Delivering a benefit that employees are enthusiastically participating in is very gratifying.”
“We’re fortunate to live in a city that has so much to offer — championship sports teams, the best soft pretzels and our internationally acclaimed museums and concert halls,” said UPHS CEO Kevin Mahoney. “With the Philadelphia Cultural Pass, our employees can take advantage of some of our renowned institutions at little or no cost. The opportunity to create a memorable experience with a friend or family member is also an important part of this program.
Rev. Dunlop was excited by the possibilities of the program. He said attending the Philadelphia Orchestra was a great way to try something new. “We had a wonderful time,” he said.
The Philadelphia Cultural Pass allows Penn Medicine employees to visit the Barnes Foundation museum with a friend for free by showing a Penn Medicine employee badge. Hopkins, who attended for the first time, went with a friend who is an art teacher, so she was able to take Hopkins on a personalized tour. The experience, Hopkins said, “helped make the art come alive.”
Heald was also a first-time visitor to the Barnes museum. She remarked how easy it was to use her Penn Medicine employee badge and that the overall experience was fantastic. She will be looking to visit the other institutions in the near future. “It’s nice to be able to focus on the arts,” Heald said.
“Working in a city filled with amazing institutions, the Philadelphia Cultural Pass encourages us to think about how to experience the arts in Philadelphia,” Hopkins said.
Employees can learn more by going to the UPHS Intranet Page and clicking on “Cultural Pass” under Event Calendars. Employees can also register for email alerts for a specific institution to stay up to date on performances, exhibits and ticket availability.