
A new report commissioned by the Wyncote Foundation, “Culture, Heritage, and Place: How Media Amplifies Community Narratives,” profiles eight place-based organizations that use media for cultural expression and connection, with local funding support.
These organizations gather and amplify stories, histories, languages, and arts that foster authentic narratives rooted in place. They help nourish a humane civic sphere, one that honors and celebrates cultural heritage and diversity of voice. The report, written by longtime Wyncote consultant Sarah Lutman of 8 Bridges Workshop, also highlights several Philadelphia-based organizations whose exemplary programs have been supported by Wyncote and reflect the kind of community work that this report explores.
David Haas, Wyncote’s Vice Chair, says the foundation’s objective is to further the emerging conversation among place-based foundations about ways media can animate and advance diverse program priorities and grantmaking goals in local communities. By profiling work across the United States, the report offers a wide range of examples that can inform local grantmaking strategy and inspire deeper investment. The impetus for this project comes from Wyncote’s first-hand experiences in media funding in the Philadelphia region, where Wyncote supports a range of organizations that use media to inform, express, and celebrate place.