Mural program additions funded
By Patricia Horn
Inquirer Staff Writer
September 29, 2005
Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program, which has helped young artists create 2,500 murals throughout the city since 1984, has received $550,000 in grants to renovate the building next door to its Mount Vernon Street headquarters.
The extra space will allow it to double the number of at-risk youths its programs serve, and give it room to create new programs as well.
The building to be renovated was once quarters for the caretakers for artist Thomas Eakins, whose former home serves as the program's headquarters. The renovations should be completed by October 2006.
Both buildings belong to the city. But as Eakins' heirs required, the city can use them only for community arts education.
When the program moved its headquarters into Eakins' home in 2001, Jane Golden, the program's director, remembers saying that "we'll never use all this space."
Four years later, she said: "We have used every square inch."
Providing funding for the new renovations are Lincoln Financial Group, which gave $250,000; the state, which gave $200,000; and the city, which gave $100,000.
The building will be called the Lincoln Financial Mural Arts Center.
In addition, Liberty Property Trust is providing pro-bono project management; Howard Stein of Cadre Design is contributing architectural work; Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers will contribute electrical work; and the Building and Construction Trades Council will provide construction assistance.
The program has a waiting list of young people who want to participate in its year-round mural arts education programs, Golden said.
"When I think about the space next door, I see potential," she said, such as studio space for young artists as well as for older, resident artists.
In addition, it offers the potential for the program to move into mosaics and other art forms, and to have a much larger exhibition space, she said.
Plus, the number of children involved in the programs could grow from the current 2,000 to 4,000, she said.