The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is a state agency in the Governor's Office. Created in 1966, the Council's mission is to foster the excellence, diversity and vitality of the arts in Pennsylvania, and to broaden the availability and appreciation of those arts throughout the Commonwealth. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Gov. Ridge has made tourism promotion a top priority of his Administration. Pennsylvania is the fourth most visited state for leisure travel in the United States.
Tourism is the second-leading industry in Pennsylvania.
Last year, tourism grew by 5.6 percent, more than double the national growth rate. More than 175.7 million people traveled to Pennsylvania for leisure in 1998, and more than one-quarter enjoyed cultural entertainment such as visiting a museum or historical site, attending a concert or play, or visiting a craft fair or festival. Gov. Ridge also has led several initiatives to further stimulate travel and tourism in Pennsylvania to ensure that the Commonwealth continues to thrive in the growing tourism industry.