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Philadelphia is Mural City: Now with new tours and a new homeLove art in public places? Philadelphia is the City of Murals and has a new home, and new tours with something for just about every
interest.
The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program is pleased to announce the launch of the 2012 Mural Tours Season from a brand new location, Mural Arts at
The Gallery. Mural Arts at The Gallery is the place to tour, shop, learn, and create with the largest public art program in the world. The new space is
on the second level of The Gallery at Market East, closest to the 9th & Market entrance.
Mural Arts New HomeMural Arts at The Gallery, a multi-use space that will operate year-round, allows for a variety of uses including painting studio, gallery exhibit space, interactive kiosks, a fully-staffed information desk, and retail space with books, gift cards, mugs, and Mural Arts merchandise. The wide variety of mural tours provides guests with the opportunity to experience public art like no other city in America, as well as offering them the chance to explore Philadelphia’s neighborhoods off the beaten track where tourists rarely go. The new Gallery location and expanded tours offered will allow for even more guests to interact with and learn about the world-renowned Mural Arts Program. Regularly scheduled trolley, walking, bicycle, and public transit tours feature experienced guides who lead guests through Philadelphia's neighborhoods for an intimate look at some of the amazing work that makes up the city's stunning outdoor art gallery. Visitors learn about city and neighborhood history, how the murals are made, and the stories behind them.Trolley TourTour one of five distinct neighborhoods and see the rich culture and history come to life through the lens of the murals. From landmark murals in Center City to off-the-beaten-path West Philadelphia, the murals show the heart and soul of its residents. Route varies by week:1st Week of Month – Center City Route 2nd Week of Month – North Philadelphia Route 3rd Week of Month – South Philadelphia Route 4th Week of Month – West Philadelphia Route 5th Week of Month – Broad St. Route Open-air trolleys are heated, but do not have air-conditioning and tours depart rain or shine. A substitute vehicle may be used if necessary. $25 for adults, $23 for seniors 65+, $15 for children 3 to 12, children under 2 free. Mural Arts Love Letter Train TourThe Mural Arts Program and Philadelphia native, New York-based artist Stephen Powers (aka ESPO), collaborated to create Love Letter, a public art project consisting of a series of 50 rooftop murals from 45th to 63rd streets along the Market Street corridor in West Philadelphia. The murals collectively express a love letter from a guy to a girl, from an artist to his hometown, and from local residents to their West Philadelphia neighborhood. Love Letter speaks to all those who have loved and for those who long for a way to express that love to the world around them. Guides provide colorful commentary and lead participants off the train to spot murals from train platforms. $19 per person (includes SEPTA train token)Mural Mile Walking TourWalk Center City Philadelphia's Mural Mile with an expert guide to get an introduction to the Mural Arts Program's renowned projects and see the City through the lens of its stunning public art. Learn about historic landmarks, political movements, great places to shop and eat, and the City's rich arts community. $17 per personMural Arts Ale & Arts Walking AdventureWalk with the Mural Arts Program to see 10 murals and visit Philadelphia’s oldest pub, McGillin’s Olde Ale House, the graffiti bar at Sampan, and sports pub The Field House. $30 per person includes tour and four alcoholic beverages.Albert M. Greenfield African American Iconic Images Collection Trolley TourThe Mural Arts Program presents a compilation of murals that capture the rich African American experience in Philadelphia. The murals honor significant figures W.E.B. DuBois, Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, Dr. J., Malcolm X, and many more. In addition to the 2-hour guided mural tour, admission to the African American Museum in Philadelphia is included (up to a $37 dollar value)! The mural tour includes audio narration by ?uestlove of the Grammy® Award-winning band, The Roots, and a website with educational lesson plans, interactive tools, video, audio, images, and maps to enhance your tour experience. Perfect for families, history buffs, students, visitors, and residents alike. Departs from and returns to the African American Museum in Philadelphia, 7th & Arch Sts. $27 Adults, $23 Seniors, $17 Students (with ID), $15 Children under 12Murals & Meals ToursGet a taste of Philadelphia's renowned murals and lunch at an outstanding restaurant with one of Philadelphia's celebrity chefs. At lunch, enjoy a tasting menu and a special presentation by the host chef. Discover the one-of-a-kind food and public art Philadelphia has to offer through this intimate experience. Select Saturdays departing on an antique trolley at 10 am, followed by lunch at 12 pm Tour departs from and returns to the restaurant location. $50 per personMural Arts Bicycle ToursTwo-hour bike tours led by an experienced guide tours the Fairmount neighborhood, Spring Garden Street, and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The bike tour is perfect for getting up close to the murals and taking photographs while getting light exercise. Participants must bring their own helmet and bicycle. Tour departs from Lloyd Hall, 1 Boathouse Row. $30 per personSculptures and Murals TourPresented by the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. Philadelphia is recognized internationally as the World's Largest Outdoor Art Gallery due to its vast collection of outdoor sculptures and murals. The Sculptures and Murals Tour takes guests for a walk around the Avenue of the Arts, City Hall, through Love Park, and along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to view artistic treasures such as Robert Indiana’s LOVE, Rodin's The Thinker, The Secret Journey mural, and a dozen more public art gems. Every Saturday, May – November, 2 – 4 pm and for private group tours. Departs from Sister Cities Park, 18th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway Adult $17, Senior & Military (with ID) $15, Student (with ID) & Youth (under 12) $12About Mural Arts in PhiladelphiaThe Mural Arts Program is the nation’s largest mural program. Since 1984, the Mural Arts Program has created over 3,500 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. In 2011, over 20,000 residents and visitors toured 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 Mural Arts in Philadelphis Reservations for all Mural Arts Program tours are strongly recommended but not required. Tickets are available online at www.muralarts.org or by phone at 215-925-3633. For private group tours and specialty tours, please call 215-925-3633. Can't make the guided tour – rent an audio guide for $10/person.
Based on information provided by Philadelphia's Mural Arts
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