Population: 1,581,000
Type of Requirement: City Council Resolution

Physical Address:
Creative Philadelphia
City Hall, Room 116
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Main Contact:
Marguerite Anglin, Public Art Director
Email Marguerite | (215) 686-4596

The Policy establishes that projects approved by qualifying Redevelopment/Development Agreements are subject to a mandatory Percent for Art obligation. For all projects with a construction budget of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or more, developers are obligated to dedicate no less than one percent (1%) of the total construction budget for works of fine art. This obligation can be satisfied by commissioning public art on-site or by paying into the Fund for Art and Civic Engagement (the “Fund”).

Developments with construction costs between one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) are required to contribute no less than one percent (1%) of the total construction budget to the Fund.

For developments with construction costs that exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000.00), no less than one percent (1%) of the total construction budget is to be expended by the developer in accordance with the Policy or contributed to the Fund at settlement. If at any time subsequent to settlement the developer wishes to contribute the unspent portion of their contribution with the Fund, they may do so upon obtaining written consent from Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC). 

The only projects that are exempt from the obligation are: 

• Affordable housing construction projects serving households at or below one hundred and twenty percent (120%) of Area Median Income (AMI) and that have an income restriction through a declaration of restrictive covenants or other similar instrument. 
• The construction of one (1) single family residence, unless the construction budget is one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or more.
• Side yards.
• Community gardens. 

If a project includes a mix of income-restricted affordable housing and market-rate housing or other uses, then the construction cost of the prorated square footage of the market-rate portion shall be used to calculate the amount of the obligation. Additionally, Developers of existing historic buildings which are in a National Register or Philadelphia Register Historic District may petition for approval to apply the public art contribution towards architectural preservation and/or restoration.

The Policy will not permit artwork which will function or be perceived as an institutional, corporate or commercial symbol or logo.