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WHEREAS,
Thanks to its Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia has earned international recognition as the “City of Murals,” attracting nearly 15,000 visitors and residents annually for tours of what is commonly known as the largest outdoor gallery in the world; and
WHEREAS,
In 1984, the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network hired artist Jane Golden to reach out to graffiti writers and redirect their talents into public art making. In addressing the citywide problem of graffiti, Mural Arts’ collective artmaking process became a powerful tool for generating dialogue, building relationships, empowering communities, and sparking economic revitalization; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program, is not only an inspiration for all Philadelphians, but is a model that is being emulated in locations around the world.
New York City, for example, announced that it will use a $500,000 grant to hire artists to paint three murals to raise awareness about mental health and cited the success of Philadelphia’s Porch Light Project, a collaborative initiative launched by the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services. The program sought to transform neighborhoods with art while promoting the health of the community; and
WHEREAS,
The collaborative process that initiated the Mural Arts Program still drives its work today, recognizing that art is a critical building block for community dialogue and action, and the catalyst for exploring creative solutions to society-wide challenges; and
WHEREAS,
With a robust portfolio of 50–100 public art projects each year and ongoing core programs in education, restorative justice, mental health, and public art and civic engagement, Philadelphia Mural Arts’ work and the incredible resulting outdoor gallery are an inseparable, iconic part of the City’s civic landscape; now
,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHIALDELPHIA
,
That it hereby declares October 2016 as “Mural Arts Month” in Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Jane Golden, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program as evidence of the deep appreciation and sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
End