In fall 2008, the William Penn Foundation commissioned PennPraxis to study public art in Philadelphia with an aim of better understanding how the city currently supports public art and where gaps in programs exist, and to identify how Philadelphia might better manage existing public art programs.
Our research demonstrates that public art has been an integral part of Philadelphia’s urban fabric and character for centuries. We have an historic opportunity, with fresh leadership in the new Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, to improve upon and explore new forms of expression tied to our identity as a world-class city.