Public art in cities often symbolizes community vibrancy, displaying that neighborhood stakeholders want to help make their city beautiful. It is often a form of community expression that provides residents with a unique chance to improve their city’s aesthetic. It can also become a destination of its own, thus incorporating itself into the urban fabric because it is seen by dwellers as a landmark. Designed buildings or open spaces can be examples of public art, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia has a unique engrained culture surrounding public art as the first city to develop the percent for art policy. This requires that one percent of the construction costs of large new development in the city must be spent on public art. This is one reason we see public art all over Philadelphia, from the clothespin in Center City, to the Plateau in University City; it is even the driving force behind Dockside Apartments’ boat-like shape. Murals are a very popular form of expression in Philadelphia; they bring new life to corners or parking lots. Philadelphia also has an Arts Commission appointed by the Mayor to approve design and location of public art, public buildings, and any “encroachments into or over the public right-of-way.” In addition, it is often the body charged with approval of design guidelines regarding building façades or signage in special zoning overlay districts.

The Fairmount Park Art Association provides a comprehensive resource of local pieces, including an interactive map that shows the exact locations of public art in Philadelphia. Click here to access the map.

Fairmount Park Art Association

FPAA research tips

www.philart.net
www.muralarts.org
http://www.phila.gov/visitors/arts.html
http://www.zpub.com/public/
http://www.publicartreview.org/