Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

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Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is both a nonprofit arts agency as well as a real estate and economic development catalyst to affect the development of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by creating an arts and entertainment district—the Cultural District.

The organization was inspired by the vision of H. J. Heinz II, known as Jack Heinz. Jack and others, including his son, United States Senator from Pennsylvania John Heinz, and William Rea, began with Heinz Hall, opening in 1971 as a new home for the Pittsburgh Symphony. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust was formed in 1984 to realize Jack's vision of an entire cultural district for blocks of the Penn-Liberty Avenue corridor, which then was a blighted area.

The Trust's first project was the restoration of the former Stanley Theater into the Benedum Center. It applied a holistic approach to urban redevelopment: streetscaping programs, facade restorations, new cultural facilities, public open spaces, and art projects.

Today the 14-square block aread has been transformed from a red-light district with only two cultural facilities—Heinz Hall and the Convention Center—to a dynamic art zone with over fourteen arts venues, including the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, public parks and plazas, and new commercial development.

PCT's first President & CEO, selected by Jack Heinz, was Carol Brown, who managed the organization from 1986 until 2000. J. Kevin McMahon is the second and current President & CEO.

The Trust's annual operating budget was nearly $50 million in 2006.