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Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia

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The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP) started in 1984 as a component of the Anti-Graffiti Network (PAGN). PAGN is a city-wide initiative to eradicate destructive graffiti and address neighborhood blight. As part of this effort, PAGN hired mural artist Jane Golden to reach out to graffiti writers and redirect their energies to mural-making. Mural painting not only helped these young men and women develop their artistic skills, but also empowered them to beautify their neighborhoods. In 1996, the City of Philadelphia recognized MAP as a program distinct from the Anti-Graffiti Network. At the same time, the Mural Arts Program established a non-profit organization, The Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates. The Advocates have a broad mission of youth development and neighborhood revitalization through the arts.

Watch this Streettalkin Philadelphia Video to take a short ride on the Mural Tour by Trolley.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Contact Info

    Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia

    The Gallery at Market East
    Level 2
    Philadelphia, PA 19130

    Phone: (215) 965-3633 x13   |   Official Website

  • Current Events

    05/11/13- 10/26/13	Mural Arts Bike Tours Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row Mural Arts Bike Tours Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row May 11-October 26, 2013 A two-hour tour of Philadelphia's renowned murals by bicycle allows an outstanding opportunity for participants to see and photograph murals up close! A guide and up to 10 participants weave through Philadelphia neighborhoods viewing nearly 20 murals and learning their stories. A can't miss Philadelphia experience! Tour runs on the 2nd and the 4th Saturday of each month and route varies by week.
    05/04/13- 10/26/13	Sculptures and Mural Tour Sister Cities Park Sculptures and Mural Tour Presented by Mural Arts Program at Sister Cities Park May 4-October 26, 2013 Philadelphia is recognized internationally as the World’s Largest Outdoor Art Gallery due to its vast collection of outdoor sculptures and murals. Presented by the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, the Sculptures and Murals tour starts at Sister Cities Park and takes guests for a walk around the Avenue of the Arts, City Hall, through Love Park, and along the Benjamin Franklin...
    04/06/13- 11/30/13	Mural Arts Trolley Tours Gallery at Market East Mural Arts Trolley Tours Presented by Mural Arts Program at Gallery at Market East April 6-November 30, 2013 Experienced guides lead participants through Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods providing an “off the beaten path,” behind-the-scenes look at some of the city’s renowned murals. A mural tour is a can’t-miss uniquely Philadelphia experience. Routes vary by week and include one special tour each month. Please check muralarts.org for regular updates.
    04/06/13- 11/30/13	Mural Mile Walking Tour Gallery at Market East Mural Mile Walking Tour Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Gallery at Market East April 6-November 30, 2013 Tour Philadelphia's Mural Mile! This collection of 15 Center City murals provides an outstanding insight into the Mural Arts Program like never before! A Mural Arts Program Guide official guide shares details about the mural-making tradition in Philadelphia, sprinkled with intimate stories about each mural. Also discussed are the Mural Arts Program's award-winning art education programs, City landmarks, and the impact of our work.
    03/20/10- Ongoing	Love Letter Mural Tours Gallery at Market East Love Letter Mural Tours Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Gallery at Market East March 20, 2010 - Ongoing A collaboration with internationally-renowned artist Stephen Powers, Love Letter is a series of over 50 rooftop murals and street-level signs in and around the Market Street corridor in West Philadelphia, spanning from 46th Street through 63rd Street created during the summer of 2009. On this weekly tour, take a ride on the El train accompanied by a Mural Arts Program tour guide to learn intimate details about the renowned Love Letter project and other murals along the way. Tour...

  • Upcoming Events

    05/25/13	Painting a Healthy City Painting a Healthy City Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia May 25, 2013 Join us at the 2nd Annual Painting a Healthy City - a FREE event open to the public! Painting a Healthy City aims to promote health and wellbeing across Philadelphia by bringing together the powerful forces of public art, community engagement, and health resources. Help paint a mural, pick up healthy tips and tricks, enjoy good food and music, get info on health resources in Philadelphia, create your own art, and be a part of the fun!
    05/28/13	Input/Output: Photography as Exchange: Jetsonorama Thomas Eakins House Input/Output: Photography as Exchange: Jetsonorama Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Thomas Eakins House May 28, 2013 Input/Output: Photography as Exchange Input/Output: The Mural Arts Photography Project is a year-long series of public art projects, community workshops and lectures, and youth art programs that explore a provocative question: can artists imagine photography as a form of art-making that transcends the simple recording of an image? Can photography be considered as a means of exchange between the audience and the urban scene, with the artist as an intermediary who consciously...
    06/02/13	What We Sow Kick-Off at Headhouse Farmers’ Market What We Sow Kick-Off at Headhouse Farmers’ Market Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia June 2, 2013 Join Mural Arts as we celebrate heirloom foods with the kick-off event for the What We Sow season of programming! Discover heirloom seeds with Happy Cat Farm, taste heirloom samples with chef Mitch Prensky of Supper, and record your food stories and recipes with Laura Deutch, of the Messages in Motion video van. FUNDERS: PNC Arts Alive, William Penn Foundation, AT&T For More Information: Alex Peltz, alex.peltz@muralarts.org |...
    06/05/13- 08/30/13	Mural Mile Walking Tour Independence Visitor Center Mural Mile Walking Tour Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Independence Visitor Center June 5-August 30, 2013 This collection of 15 Center City murals provides an outstanding insight into the Mural Arts Program like never before! A Mural Arts Program Guide official guide shares details about the mural-making tradition in Philadelphia, sprinkled with intimate stories about each mural. Also discussed are the Mural Arts Program's award-winning art education programs, City landmarks, and the impact of our work.
    06/15/13	Father's Day Mural Arts Tour Gallery at Market East Father's Day Mural Arts Tour Presented by Mural Arts Program at Gallery at Market East June 15, 2013 Treat Dad to a special Mural Arts Sports Tour in honor of Father's Day, The two hour trolley tour showcases great sports legends and traditions, and includes famed murals of Jackie Robinson, Dr. J, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Blue Horizon boxing arena. A trained guide shares the back stories about the murals and Philadelphia's sports history.

• Current &
  Upcoming Events

  • Current Events

    05/11/13- 10/26/13	Mural Arts Bike Tours Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row Mural Arts Bike Tours Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row May 11-October 26, 2013 A two-hour tour of Philadelphia's renowned murals by bicycle allows an outstanding opportunity for participants to see and photograph murals up close! A guide and up to 10 participants weave through Philadelphia neighborhoods viewing nearly 20 murals and learning their stories. A can't miss Philadelphia experience! Tour runs on the 2nd and the 4th Saturday of each month and route varies by week.
    05/04/13- 10/26/13	Sculptures and Mural Tour Sister Cities Park Sculptures and Mural Tour Presented by Mural Arts Program at Sister Cities Park May 4-October 26, 2013 Philadelphia is recognized internationally as the World’s Largest Outdoor Art Gallery due to its vast collection of outdoor sculptures and murals. Presented by the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, the Sculptures and Murals tour starts at Sister Cities Park and takes guests for a walk around the Avenue of the Arts, City Hall, through Love Park, and along the Benjamin Franklin...
    04/06/13- 11/30/13	Mural Arts Trolley Tours Gallery at Market East Mural Arts Trolley Tours Presented by Mural Arts Program at Gallery at Market East April 6-November 30, 2013 Experienced guides lead participants through Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods providing an “off the beaten path,” behind-the-scenes look at some of the city’s renowned murals. A mural tour is a can’t-miss uniquely Philadelphia experience. Routes vary by week and include one special tour each month. Please check muralarts.org for regular updates.
    04/06/13- 11/30/13	Mural Mile Walking Tour Gallery at Market East Mural Mile Walking Tour Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Gallery at Market East April 6-November 30, 2013 Tour Philadelphia's Mural Mile! This collection of 15 Center City murals provides an outstanding insight into the Mural Arts Program like never before! A Mural Arts Program Guide official guide shares details about the mural-making tradition in Philadelphia, sprinkled with intimate stories about each mural. Also discussed are the Mural Arts Program's award-winning art education programs, City landmarks, and the impact of our work.
    03/20/10- Ongoing	Love Letter Mural Tours Gallery at Market East Love Letter Mural Tours Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Gallery at Market East March 20, 2010 - Ongoing A collaboration with internationally-renowned artist Stephen Powers, Love Letter is a series of over 50 rooftop murals and street-level signs in and around the Market Street corridor in West Philadelphia, spanning from 46th Street through 63rd Street created during the summer of 2009. On this weekly tour, take a ride on the El train accompanied by a Mural Arts Program tour guide to learn intimate details about the renowned Love Letter project and other murals along the way. Tour...

  • Upcoming Events

    05/25/13	Painting a Healthy City Painting a Healthy City Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia May 25, 2013 Join us at the 2nd Annual Painting a Healthy City - a FREE event open to the public! Painting a Healthy City aims to promote health and wellbeing across Philadelphia by bringing together the powerful forces of public art, community engagement, and health resources. Help paint a mural, pick up healthy tips and tricks, enjoy good food and music, get info on health resources in Philadelphia, create your own art, and be a part of the fun!
    05/28/13	Input/Output: Photography as Exchange: Jetsonorama Thomas Eakins House Input/Output: Photography as Exchange: Jetsonorama Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Thomas Eakins House May 28, 2013 Input/Output: Photography as Exchange Input/Output: The Mural Arts Photography Project is a year-long series of public art projects, community workshops and lectures, and youth art programs that explore a provocative question: can artists imagine photography as a form of art-making that transcends the simple recording of an image? Can photography be considered as a means of exchange between the audience and the urban scene, with the artist as an intermediary who consciously...
    06/02/13	What We Sow Kick-Off at Headhouse Farmers’ Market What We Sow Kick-Off at Headhouse Farmers’ Market Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia June 2, 2013 Join Mural Arts as we celebrate heirloom foods with the kick-off event for the What We Sow season of programming! Discover heirloom seeds with Happy Cat Farm, taste heirloom samples with chef Mitch Prensky of Supper, and record your food stories and recipes with Laura Deutch, of the Messages in Motion video van. FUNDERS: PNC Arts Alive, William Penn Foundation, AT&T For More Information: Alex Peltz, alex.peltz@muralarts.org |...
    06/05/13- 08/30/13	Mural Mile Walking Tour Independence Visitor Center Mural Mile Walking Tour Presented by Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia at Independence Visitor Center June 5-August 30, 2013 This collection of 15 Center City murals provides an outstanding insight into the Mural Arts Program like never before! A Mural Arts Program Guide official guide shares details about the mural-making tradition in Philadelphia, sprinkled with intimate stories about each mural. Also discussed are the Mural Arts Program's award-winning art education programs, City landmarks, and the impact of our work.
    06/15/13	Father's Day Mural Arts Tour Gallery at Market East Father's Day Mural Arts Tour Presented by Mural Arts Program at Gallery at Market East June 15, 2013 Treat Dad to a special Mural Arts Sports Tour in honor of Father's Day, The two hour trolley tour showcases great sports legends and traditions, and includes famed murals of Jackie Robinson, Dr. J, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Blue Horizon boxing arena. A trained guide shares the back stories about the murals and Philadelphia's sports history.

• Past
  Events

  • Past Events

    05/23/13	Wall Ball 2013
    05/23/13	Mural Arts Program Young Friends Collective Off-the-Wall Ball
    05/23/13	2013 WALL BALL with Julius “Dr. J” Erving
    05/19/13	FREE Mural Arts Porch Light Tours
    05/18/13	Painting a Healthy City
    05/18/13	Stacy Levy RAIN ART Design Workshop
    05/11/13	Painting a Healthy City
    05/11/13	Mother's Day Murals & Meals Tour Positano Coast
    05/11/13	Mother's Day Murals & Meals Tour
    05/08/13	DEDICATION: One Human's Trash is Another's Treasure by Candy Depew
    04/20/13	Music & Jazz Mural Arts Tour African American Museum in Philadelphia
    03/23/13	Celebrating Women: Mural Arts Women's History Month Tour Gallery at Market East
    03/21/13	Porch Light Documentary Film Screening and Panel Discussion
    03/14/13	Porch Light Exhibition Gallery Talk and Reception
    03/05/13	Happy Hour benefiting the Mural Arts Program Fadó Irish Pub
    03/01/13	Porch Light Exhibition Opening - First Friday
    02/23/13	African American Iconic Images Tour
    02/10/13	Love Train Tour & Reception
    01/11/13	Aqui y Alla Mural Documentary Screening
    12/01/12	Philly Painting Celebration
    11/10/12	Mural Dedication: Wissahickon Crossing
    10/27/12	The Roots Mural Project Celebration
    10/27/12	Mural Arts Month: Mural Tour of Selections from the African American Iconic Images Collection
    10/27/12	Mural Arts Month: "AppleFest" Whole Foods Community Event
    10/21/12	Mural Arts Month: Peace is a Haiku Song Mural Dedication
    10/20/12	Mural Arts Month: Personal Melody Mural Dedication & Midtown Village Murals Walking Tour
    10/19/12	Mural Arts Month: Richard Haas Mural Re-Dedication
    10/18/12	Mural Arts Month: Aqui y Alla Mural Dedication
    10/17/12	Peace is a Haiku Song: An Evening with Sonia Sanchez & Friends
    10/15/12	Mural Arts Month: Young Friends Happy Hour at Shake Shack
    10/14/12	Mural Arts Month: Southeast by Southeast Walking Tour
    10/13/12	Philly Painting Walking Tour & Artist Talk
    10/13/12	Mural Arts Month: Bloktoberfest Celebration
    10/12/12	Mural Arts Month & Design Philadelphia Mural Dedication: Written in Wood Center for Art in Wood
    10/11/12	Mural Arts Month: Art and Urban Change: A Conversation with Candy Chang Asian Arts Initiative
    10/10/12	Mural Arts Month: APM Porchlight Dedication
    10/06/12	Mural Arts Month: Celebrity Mural Tour with Maureen O'Connell
    10/05/12	Mural Arts Month: S.T.O.P. Porchlight Mural Dedication
    10/05/12	Mural Arts Month: Aqui y Alla Exhibition Opening
    10/04/12	Mural Arts Month: If These Walls Could Talk Book Reading and Reception Ethical Society Building
    10/03/12	Mural Dedication: The Color of Your Voice
    07/28/12	The Roots 101 Series: How We Got Over - The Power of Collaboration
    07/27/12	The Roots Mural Project: Fourth Friday - Amber Art & Design
    07/11/12- 12/31/12	Family Interrupted/Community Connected Exhibition Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent
    07/03/12	Mural Arts Program "The Roots Project" Community Paint Day
    06/23/12	The Roots 101 Series: Industry Rule#4,080
    06/23/12	Southeast by Southeast: World Refugee Day 2012
    06/22/12	Roots 101 Student Exhibition
    06/13/12	Exhibit Opening: Mural Training Program Thomas Eakins House
    05/31/12	City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Wall Ball Honors The Roots
    05/12/12- 11/24/12	Sculptures and Murals (SAM) Tour Sister Cities Park
    04/28/12- 11/24/12	African American Iconic Images Trolley Tour African American Museum in Philadelphia
    04/01/12- 11/25/12	City of Murals Trolley Tour
    04/01/12- 11/30/12	Mural Mile Walking Tour
    02/25/12	African American Images Trolley Tour African American Museum in Philadelphia
    02/18/12	Murals and Meals: Ms. Tootsie's and Art Sanctuary Package Art Sanctuary
    02/12/12	Love Train 2012
    07/09/11	Albert M. Greenfield African American Iconic Images Collection Poetry Jam Session The Arts Garage (TAG)
    06/01/11	Mural Arts 2011 Wall Ball The Piazza at Schmidts
    06/01/11	PRO Mural Arts 2011 Wall Ball After Party The Piazza at Schmidts
    05/14/11- 11/12/11	City of Murals Bike Tour Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row
    05/14/11	Mural Arts Bike Tours Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row
    04/30/11- 11/26/11	African American Iconic Images Tour African American Museum in Philadelphia
    04/30/11	2011 Earth Day of Service CAPA - Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts
    04/14/11- 11/24/11	Ale and Arts Adventure World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    04/09/11- 11/27/11	Mural Arts Trolley Tour Independence Visitor Center
    04/07/11- 05/01/11	How Philly Moves Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
    04/01/11- 11/30/11	Mural Mile Walking Tour Independence Visitor Center
    02/13/11	Ride the Love Train Love Park
    10/30/10	Restorative Justice Tour and Film Screening With Bernard Hopkins Jack's Firehouse
    10/30/10	Community Paint Day: Women Heroes Past And Present
    10/29/10	One World Mural Dedication by Ann Northrup & The Restorative Justice Program
    10/23/10	South Philadelphia Mural Tour With Councilman Jim Kenney South Philly Bar and Grill
    10/23/10	Frank Rizzo Mural Rededication
    10/21/10	Mural Arts Cops & Kids Program: SEPTA
    10/21/10	Cops & Kids: South Philly High
    10/21/10	Award-Winning Documentary Screening: Concrete, Steel & Paint Friends Center
    10/18/10	The Bishop's Colllar Mural Dedication
    10/16/10	Mural Mile Walking Tour McGillin's Olde Ale House
    10/16/10	Mural Arts
    10/13/10	BigBelly Scavenger Hunt Center City Philadelphia
    10/12/10	A Mixing Light Workshop Created By Pulse
    10/09/10- 10/10/10	How Philly Moves: Mural Arts Program & Philadelphia Open Studio Tours Gallery at Market East
    10/09/10	How Philly Moves: Community Paint Day Gallery at Market East
    10/09/10	Mural Arts Fourth Wall Salon Boutique
    10/07/10	Mural Dedication: Lead Muralist Parris Stancell Presents Past, Present And Future Forever
    10/06/10	Mural Dedication: The Evolving Face of Nursing
    10/05/10	Mural Dedication At Le Virtu Le Virtu Restaurant
    10/02/10	Celebrity Murals & Meals Tour: Explore Philadelphia With 2 Public Art Legends
    06/24/10	Ale and Arts Adventure Trolley Tour World Cafe Live - Philadelphia
    06/23/10- 07/14/10	Meet The Muralist Various Locations
    06/17/10	Mural Mile: Philadelphia Muses Philadelphia Muses
    05/27/10- 09/30/10	Ale and Arts Adventure Walking Tour Various Locations
    05/27/10	Ale & Arts Trolley Adventure
    05/06/10	Wall Ball Loews Philadelphia Hotel
    05/01/10- 10/31/10	Guided Mural Mile Walking Tour Independence Visitor Center
    05/01/10- 10/31/10	Mural Mile Cell Phone Tour Independence Visitor Center
    05/01/10- 05/31/10	Celebrate Arts & Aging with: Tour the City of Murals! Independence Visitor Center
    04/10/10- 11/13/10	Mural Arts Program Guided Bicycle Tours Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row
    04/03/10- 11/28/10	City of Murals Trolley Tour Independence Visitor Center
    03/18/10- 04/23/10	Philagrafika 2010: Independent Project - The Wall Remixed Thomas Eakins House
    02/28/10- 03/07/10	Murals & Gardens Tour Pennsylvania Convention Center
    02/14/10	Ride the Love Train - Philadelphia's Unique Valentine's Day Experience Various Locations
    02/12/10- 02/28/10	Love Letter Various Locations
    01/29/10- 02/28/10	Color By Numbers Exhibition Thomas Eakins House
    01/28/10	Color By Numbers Opening Reception Thomas Eakins House
    10/26/09	Mural Arts Program Community Paint Day Alexander Wilson Elementary School
    10/25/09	Muralissimo at the Piazza The Piazza at Schmidts
    10/18/09	Independence Starts Here! Mural Tour Independence Visitor Center
    10/18/09	Mural Dedication: Neighborhood Interfaith Mural Neighborhood Interfaith Movement
    09/23/09	Creatively Speaking Speakers Series: Steve Powers Slought Foundation
    09/12/09	Celebrity Mural & Meals Tour with Chef Jose Garces
    08/12/09	Creatively Speaking 25th Anniversary Speakers Series: Steve Powers Slought Foundation
    07/25/09	Love Letter Block Party
    06/04/09	Wall Ball 2009 Loews Philadelphia Hotel
    04/15/09	A Conversation with Jane Golden, Mural Arts Program Founder and Executive Director University of the Arts