Rosa Cartagena serves as an arts and entertainment reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, where she covers the vibrant cultural landscape of Philadelphia. Her beat encompasses movies, television, theater, museums, local artists, and fascinating art mysteries that captivate the city's creative community.
Before joining The Inquirer, Cartagena worked as senior editor at Bitch: A Feminist Response to Pop Culture. Over nearly a decade, she has written extensively about arts, entertainment, politics, race, gender, and lifestyle for both national and local publications, including The Washington Post, Washingtonian, and Smithsonian magazine.
Cartagena's professional development includes participation in the prestigious National Arts Critics Institute in 2021. Two years later, in 2023, she was selected to join the Periplus Collective, a specialized mentorship community dedicated to supporting writers of color in their professional growth.
Her educational background includes graduation from Mount Holyoke College, where she pursued a double major in international relations and French while minoring in journalism. She is an active member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, reflecting her commitment to diversity in media representation.
Among her notable recent coverage, Cartagena has written extensively about Philadelphia's connection to the Surrealist art movement, particularly highlighting how the Philadelphia Museum of Art houses one of the world's best Surrealist collections and is celebrating the movement's centenary. She has also covered the city's vibrant theater scene through the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, documenting performances from various venues including the Wanamaker Building, Mantua rowhouses, and traditional Greek halls.
Her entertainment coverage extends to television productions with Philadelphia connections, including HBO's 'Task,' created by Brad Ingelsby, whom she describes as having become 'the bard of Delco.' Cartagena has also covered crossover episodes between popular shows like 'Abbott Elementary' and 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,' showcasing the city's prominent role in contemporary television.
Beyond traditional arts coverage, Cartagena has delved into Philadelphia's museum world, reporting on significant changes at the Mütter Museum regarding their approach to collecting and displaying human remains. She has also brought attention to forgotten artists like Mavis Pusey, whose legacy was rescued through Philadelphia curatorial efforts.
Her entertainment industry coverage includes profiles of Philadelphia-born actors like David Corenswet, who starred in the recent Superman film, and Danny DeVito's appearances on Abbott Elementary. She has also covered the reopening of historic venues like the Lansdowne Theater after a $21 million renovation following decades of closure.
Outside of her professional work, Cartagena maintains strong connections to her Puerto Rican heritage by performing folkloric music with her family in New Jersey. She also enjoys spending time with her tuxedo cat named Mochi, balancing her busy reporting schedule with personal interests that reflect both her cultural background and love for the arts.
Cartagena's reporting consistently demonstrates her ability to connect Philadelphia's rich cultural history with contemporary artistic developments, making complex art world stories accessible to general readers while maintaining the depth and accuracy that arts coverage demands. Her work bridges the gap between high culture and popular entertainment, reflecting the diverse cultural ecosystem that makes Philadelphia a significant arts destination.
