The Murals of Philadelphia: Guided and Self-guided tours of the city murals

Today, the Mural Arts Program announced a new program, The Mural Mile: a group of 17 murals located in Center City Philadelphia that have been curated into accessible programs to tell the stories behind the art. Each story demonstrates the diversity of styles and subject matter that makes the City of Murals – and Philadelphia’s neighborhoods – so dynamic and interesting. The Mural Mile leads from commercial districts to residential blocks while exploring the compelling stories behind the walls that bring each mural to life.

A specially-marked map has been created for the brochure and on-line. Using this map, residents and visitors can experience The Mural Mile using their own cell phone or the downloadable podcast. Daily guided walking tours of The Mural Mile departing from the Independence Visitor Center are also available to provide a more in-depth experience of each mural and the mural-making process.

The Mural Mile includes Center City favorite murals such as Legacy, 707 Chestnut Street; Tree of Knowledge, 13th & Market Streets; Philadelphia Muses, 13th & Locust Streets; Pride and Progress, 1315 Spruce Street; Taste of Summer, 1312 Spruce Street; Spring, 1315 Pine Street; Theater of Life, S. Broad & Lombard Streets; Gimme Shelter, 1236 Lombard Street; and Mapping Courage: Honoring W.E.B. Du Bois and Engine #11, 6th & South Streets. A complete list of murals and their locations is available as a Google Map, here: http://bit.ly/aVcCsP.

Exploring The Mural Mile

Cell Phone Tours Hear the stories behind the murals along The Mural Mile from a cell phone. Using The Mural Mile Map (provided free of charge and distributed in hard copy throughout Center City and downloadable from muralarts.org), anyone can dial (215) 525-1577 and enter the number of the mural whose story they wish to hear, followed by the # key. The cell phone tour is provided free of charge. However, the charges specified in an individual’s contract with your cell phone provider still apply. Technology provided by Guide by Cell.

Podcasts
Take a self-guided tour by downloading The Mural Mile podcast. Simply visit www.muralarts.org/muralmile and follow the directions to download the audio tour. The podcast includes information about the murals on The Mural Mile, directions between murals, as well as bonus content about the mural-making process and the Mural Arts Program.

The Mural Mile Guided Walking Tours
Mural Arts Program guided tours provide a “behind the scenes” look at some of the city’s 3,000 murals, including stories and facts not heard anywhere else. Tours depart from the Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Streets (across from the Liberty Bell Center). The tours of Center City murals last 90 minutes, led by trained and experienced guides. MP3 players will be provided with Mural Mile podcasts. Tour includes recorded audio segments with information and interaction with live guide. Every day, May through October, 11:30 am – 1 pm, $17 per person

Mural Mile Self-Guided Walking Tour
The full self-guided walking tour of 17 murals is 2.5 miles with an estimated walking time of one hour, or two hours with the audio tour. Full version of tour begins at Legacy, 707 Chestnut Street. The abridged self-guided tour of 12 murals is one mile with an estimated walking time of 25 minutes, or one hour with the audio tour. The abridged tour begins at Tree of Knowledge, 13th and Market Streets and ends at Gimme Shelter, 1235 Lombard Street.

Mural Arts Program Director Jane Golden said, “The Mural Arts Program loves having the opportunity to show off the stories behind the murals to people who pass them every day, or are glimpsing them for the first time. The Mural Mile is a unique way to bring some of our 3,000 works of public art to life.”

During June and July, celebrate The Mural Mile with interactive and experiential events.

All events are free and open to the public.
Two different types of events which bring the murals to life, the Meet the Muralist Series and Celebrate The Stories Events, will take place over the next few months.

Meet the Muralist Series
For four consecutive weeks, to coincide with the launch of The Mural Mile, everyone is invited to hear artist talks along The Mural Mile. Ask questions, take pictures, and hear about the imagery, themes and processes from the muralists themselves.

Celebrate The Stories Events The murals are brought to life through performances, speakers, and family-friendly events. All events are free and open to the public.

The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through its signature cause, Grow Up Great, PNC has created a 10-year, $100 million initiative to enhance early childhood education and school readiness.

The Mural Arts Program is the nation’s largest mural program. Since 1984, the Mural Arts Program has created over 3,000 murals and works of public art, earning Philadelphia international recognition as the “City of Murals.” The Mural Arts Program engages over 100 communities each year in the transformation of neighborhoods through the mural-making process, while award-winning, free art education programs serve nearly 2,000 youth at sites throughout the city and at-risk teens through education outreach programs. The Mural Arts Program also serves adult offenders in local prisons and rehabilitation centers, using the restorative power of art to break the cycle of crime and violence in our communities.

Each year, nearly 10,000 residents and visitors tour the Mural Arts Program’s outdoor art gallery, which has become part of Philadelphia’s civic landscape and a source of pride and inspiration. For further information, call (215) 685-0750 or visit MuralArts.org