What Philadelphians want to see at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

💌 Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. Some Philadelphians want a Met-style gala at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  That much became clear after I asked a room full of influential Philadelphia leaders about their ideas to boost attendance and funding for the institution. Can you envision it? Dramatic entrances on the fabled Rocky steps, perhaps a bow tie on our favorite fictional boxer s statue and red carpet glam and glitz inside? This idea, a big annual gala like the one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, was one of many suggestions submitted by this room full of engaged Philadelphians. They had just spent an hour listening to the Art Museum’s new CEO, Daniel Weiss, speak about the grave challenges the institution faces, mainly a daunting budget deficit and lower visitor numbers. I interviewed Weiss for an event with the Sunday Breakfast Club, a long-standing discussion group that meets on Wed