# Academy of Natural Sciences Closure Spur Bill for Philly Arts Funding

> Philadelphia introduces sales tax hike to fund arts after museum closure.
- Title: Academy of Natural Sciences Closure Spur Bill for Philly Arts…
- Summary: Philadelphia introduces sales tax hike to fund arts after museum closure. State Sen.
- Keywords: academy of natural sciences, philadelphia, sales tax, arts funding, museum closure, nikil saval, philadelphia city council, drexel university, cultural institutions, public arts, PhillyVoice
- Source: PhillyVoice — https://phillyvoice.com/academy-natural-sciences-closure-prompts-bill
- Published: 2026-11-12T23:18:55.514+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: academy of natural sciences, philadelphia, sales tax, arts funding, museum closure, nikil saval, philadelphia city council, drexel university, cultural institutions, public arts, news, local
## Museum Closure
Drexel University closed the Academy of Natural Sciences museum at the end of September.

> I lost 26 years by not asking a question
## State Sen. Nikil Saval Proposes Bill
State Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) introduced legislation to increase Philadelphia's local sales tax for arts funding.
## Bill Purpose
The bill would give Philadelphia authority to raise sales and use taxes, keeping revenue for cultural and community assets.
## Funding Targets
Money could support museums, galleries, theaters, libraries, parks and recreation centers.
## Saval's Statement
Saval said the bill would make a generational investment in arts and cultural institutions.

> We have an opportunity to make a generational investment in our arts and cultural institutions, parks, and civic space, preserving these treasured community assets and expanding public access
## Political Context
Democrats hold a trifecta in state government after midterm elections.
## Past Closures
Saval noted University of the Arts closed two years ago and Philadelphia History Museum shuttered in 2018.
## Historical Precedent
Pennsylvania passed a similar measure in 1993 for Allegheny County's Regional Asset District.
## Allegheny RAD Impact
The Allegheny RAD has invested over $5.5 billion using half of a 1% local sales tax revenue.
## Philadelphia's Tax Rate
Philadelphia's 8% combined state and local sales tax is the highest in Pennsylvania.
## Public Arts Funding
Philadelphia ranks last in U.S. for public arts funding per resident.
## Voter Support
84% of Philadelphia voters approved Creative Philadelphia under Home Rule Charter.
## Opposition Concerns
Philadelphia is the poorest big city in the nation, making tax hikes harder to sell.
## Task Force Resolution
City Council created a task force to study Academy of Natural Sciences museum reopening options.
## Key takeaway

State Sen. Nikil Saval's bill aims to boost Philly's arts funding by raising local sales tax after Academy of Natural Sciences museum shut down.