Percent for Art Program
In December of 1959, Philadelphia's City Council adopted one of the first Percent for Art Ordinances in the nation. The Office of Arts and Culture's Public Art Office administer Philadelphia's Percent for Art Program and Conservation and Collection Management Program. Since 1959 more than 250 works of art have been commissioned through the Percent for Art Program. The goal of the Percent for Art Program is to commission artists to create outstanding and enduring artwork, which will respond specifically to public spaces. The intent of the Percent for Art Ordinance is to enliven the City of Philadelphia's public environment by incorporating exceptional works of art into City construction projects. Works of art commissioned through the Percent for Art Program will hopefully engage the community in lively discourse while raising their level of awareness and involvement in the future preservation of the City's collection of public art.

The Percent for Art Ordinance, section 16-103 of the Philadelphia Code states:

“ An amount not to exceed one percent of the total dollar amount of any construction contract for a building, bridge and its approaches, arch, gate or other structure to be paid for either wholly or in part by the City, shall be devoted to Fine Arts; provided that the Art Commission certifies in writing that said ornamentation is fitting and appropriate to the function and location of the structure.”

Efforts are made to secure a full one-percent for all projects; however, the ordinance does not specify that a full one-percent must be allocated.

What kinds of construction projects are considered for the Program?
The Percent for Art ordinance extends to construction and remodeling projects planned through the City of Philadelphia's annual capital budget process, as well as those developed at the department level. On occasion, the Public Art Office receives requests to administer privately funded public art projects.

Are works of art of all media considered?
The Percent for Art Program considers all site-specific artworks. The inclusion of works of art at the site may occur in a variety of ways: as an integral part of the architectural and functional aspects of the project and/or as a separate formal element of the site. The following is a list of possible artwork to be considered:

How are the artists selected for each project?
The Public Art Office prepares a prospectus for each project, which explains the details and submission procedures. General requirements include current slides, resume, and a statement of intent. All artists on our mailing list automatically receive the current prospectus. All Percent for Art projects are open to professional artists and/or artistic teams. For each project, an independent selection panel, comprised of arts professionals, artists, community representatives, architects, and tenants or users of the specified facility, reviews artists' submissions. Artwork is selected on the basis of artistic merit, technical proficiency, and relationship to the site. Long-term maintenance and public safety concerns are also considered. Artists are required to comply with applicable rules, methods, and procedures of all governmental boards, bureaus, offices, commissions, and other agencies of the City of Philadelphia. The Percent for Art Program is designed to offer serious consideration to all artists with or without prior experience in public art.

How are the artists paid?
The selected artist enters into a contractual agreement with the City of Philadelphia. The Public Art Office administers the project on behalf of the City of Philadelphia. The funds allocated for a Percent for Art project must cover the artist's entire budget including design fees, fabrication, installation, transportation, and insurance costs and legal fees.

Percent for Art Advisory Committee
The Percent for Art Advisory Committee consists of arts professionals appointed by the City Representative for Arts and Culture and is responsible for advising the City Representative and the Public Art Office on matters relating to the implementation of the Percent for Art Ordinance. The Percent for Art Advisory Committee encourages artists to propose works that respond directly to the characteristics of the site specified; that will increase the public's appreciation of art in Philadelphia's public spaces; and that will resonate with Philadelphia's character and landscape. Additionally, the Percent for Art Advisory Committee is committed to the advancement of public understanding of the arts by providing educational outreach for the Philadelphia community in the form of lectures, workshops, and open public forums.