ABOUT ART ON THE PARKWAY
Art on the Parkway, is a juried commission organized by the Association for Public Art (aPA) in partnership with the Parkway Council and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR), inviting artists, designers, and other creatives to propose a temporary public art installation in Maja Park on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway as part of the annual Oval summer festivities. Proposals are asked to explore the ways in which art can engage with audiences and respond to the site.
Maja Park. Photo courtesy Parkway Council.
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is one of Philadelphia’s grandest civic spaces with a rich array of art and architecture—including many sculptures commissioned and maintained by the Association for Public Art. This opportunity invites proposals that expand the idea of the Parkway as a great urban park while both celebrating the Parkway’s historic built environment and exploring its future as a more inclusive and vibrant public space for all Philadelphians. Proposed artworks must be durable and suitable for display in a public park open to the elements for the four month exhibit period from July-October 2025.
Art on the Parkway is open to individuals or collaborative teams who live or work in the Philadelphia metro area. Students are not eligible. More information on eligibility can be found in the Art on the Parkway FAQs.
Award
The selected proposal will receive an all-inclusive commission award of $15,000.
Jurors
Coming soon!
Questions
For more information, read the Art on the Parkway FAQs. If your question is still not answered, email opencall@associationforpublicart.org.
Organized by the Association for Public Art (aPA), in partnership with the Parkway Council and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR).
About Association for Public Art
The Association for Public Art (aPA) is a non-profit organization that commissions and preserves public art in Philadelphia, while advancing the pivotal role art can play in creating and enhancing public space and civic life. For more information, visit associationforpublicart.org.
About the Parkway Council
The Parkway Council, a not-for-profit organization, works to accelerate the transformation of Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway into a great urban park for all. For more information, visit parkwaycouncil.org
The Weight of Our Living
by Rachel Hsu
Through the healing practice of reflexology, The Weight of Our Living connects emotional endurance to tactile experience by calling on visitors to remove their shoes and traverse across an undulating surface of river stones.
Rachel Hsu is an interdisciplinary artist who works with visual art, language, and poetry. Inspired by absence, relational ruptures, and slippages in translation, she engages the yearning that emerges from distance and displacement to make mental exertion and emotional endurance felt within one’s body. Her work has been exhibited nationally including Philadelphia and New York, and her writing has been published in Honey Literary. She holds an MFA in sculpture from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and a BFA in sculpture from Western Washington University. Originally from Seattle, WA, she is currently based in Philadelphia, PA.
The application period opens February 15th, 2025
ELIGIBILITY
- Applications will be accepted from individuals, collectives, or teams including artists and other creatives twenty-one years and older.
- Entrants who live or work in the Philadelphia metro area are eligible to apply.
- Students are not eligible to apply.
- While no specific professional credential is required, applicants must demonstrate their qualifications and ability to execute a public project of this scale in an outdoor environment.
BUDGET
The selected proposal recipient will receive an all-inclusive award of $15,000 to realize the proposed project. All related project expenses are to be part of this award, including but not limited to artist/design/professional fees, travel/meetings, materials and supplies, labor, equipment, fabrication, maintenance, delivery to and from the site, installation, and deinstallation. Housing and studio space are not provided as part of the project award.
PLEASE NOTE: The project award may be considered taxable income based on the recipient’s tax status. It is up to applicants to consider tax implications and consult with their tax advisors. General insurance for permitting and installation will be arranged by the aPA. Fine art insurance for the artwork will not be provided.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS
The Art on the Parkway open call is a competitive, two-part selection process. A jury of artists, designers, and art professionals will select three finalist proposals from entrants for further development and public feedback. A single project will then be selected for commission at Maja Park.
Selection Criteria
- Artistic Excellence–design ability and skill, integrity, and originality of ideas
- Relationship of proposal to site and its surroundings
- Ability to realize projects of similar scope & technical feasibility of proposal
- Completeness of application materials
ROUND 1 APPLICANTS
Proposals must include the following components, and must be formatted as instructed below and submitted via Jotform no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 4, 2025. The application links can be accessed here:
Apply
Individual Application coming soon
Team Application coming soon
1. APPLICANT INFORMATION
Applicants will share their contact information and a project title. If you are applying as a team, please include the names and emails for each team member and identify one team member as the Lead Contact.
2. PROJECT PROPOSAL AND PROJECT BUDGET
Applicants must submit a project proposal of up to 300 words that clearly describes the project, materials, and approximate dimensions. The proposal should also explain how the work explores the ways in which art can engage with audiences and respond to the site. Applicants must also submit three (3) conceptual project proposal design sketches or renderings as digital images. Each digital image should be 1200 pixels at its longest dimension and saved at 72 dpi as a PDF and then combined as a single PDF document not to exceed 10 megabytes and submitted. The design sketches should also include descriptive text for each image in the PDF document: artist name, artwork title, date, dimensions, and proposed medium. Proposals must also include a short project budget that demonstrates feasibility and include a breakdown of project expenses within the $15,000 project budget.
3. RÉSUMÉ/CV
The résumé /CV should include information about your education; professional experience; exhibition history; awards, grants, and residencies; experience in realizing artwork in the public realm; and other relevant information. Successful applicants should be able to demonstrate their ability to realize their project proposal based on prior experiences. If you are applying as a team, a résumé/CV must be submitted for each applicant. The three finalists will be asked to provide the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of three references who are familiar with your work.
4. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AND DESCRIPTIONS
Submit up to six (6) digital images of recent work. Each digital image should be 1200 pixels at its longest dimension and saved at 72 dpi as a PDF and then combined as a single PDF document not to exceed 10 megabytes and submitted. These images are in addition to the images submitted as part of the project proposal. Recent works may be realized or proposed projects in any medium. Please include descriptive text for each image in the PDF document: artist name, artwork title, date, dimensions, medium, location, and a photo credit.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 4, 2025
FINALISTS AND PROJECT AWARD
Three finalists will be invited in early May to discuss the viability of their proposals with aPA and the Parkway Council, and may be asked to prepare additional information, visuals, and budget revisions for final review by the jury and selection team. Finalists will receive an honorarium of $250 each. Finalist proposals will also be presented online on the Association for Public Art’s website for public commentary. Finalists will be asked to meet with the jury and selection team to discuss their proposals in more detail the week of May 19-23rd. The project commission is anticipated to be awarded by June 1st. The selected finalist will have roughly seven weeks to fabricate or construct the installation. The completed project is scheduled to open to the public during the week of July 14, 2025 (exact Opening Reception date TBD). The selected finalist will be required to sign an agreement to the terms of the project as outlined before any work on the site can commence. A payment of $10,000 will be made upon execution of the agreement; the remaining $5,000 upon completion and public opening of the project.
Maja Park
Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop proposals in response to the project location and take into consideration the site’s urban outdoor environment, as outlined in the site plan. Maja Park includes an existing sculpture (Maja by Gerhard Marcks) as well as a pergola and seating structure.
Maja by Gerhard Marcks (1942), the centerpiece of Maja Park at 22nd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Philadelphia, PA). Photo: Meredith Edlow for aPA.
Pre-application visits to the Parkway and Maja Park are recommended to learn more about its spaces, public art, and future plans. Please be aware that the selected proposal and placement on the site are subject to final approval by the aPA, Parkway Council, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, and must meet all safety and technical requirements for withstanding the effects of weather and public use.
Site visits and information sessions to be announced.
Please review the Maja Park Site Plan before submitting your application.
Learn more about the sculpture Maja.
The Parkway’s Future
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability, and the Parkway Council are working to create a multi-phase plan to transform the Parkway into Philadelphia’s greatest public space. A planning team led by Design Workshop was selected in 2021, through a public request for proposal (RFP) to generate ideas from designers and planners from around the world.
This project seeks to unlock the Parkway’s potential as a great urban park in the center of one of America’s greatest cities.
To learn more about this Parkway Council project visit phlparkway.com.
Click here to learn more about the Benjamin Franklin Parkway’s history.
Reimagine Benjamin Franklin Parkway strategy plan. Design Workshop.
Art on the Parkway: Frequently Asked Questions
This page will continue to be updated throughout the open application period. Please check back periodically for updated information.
Application
I need help creating a PDF. Do you provide any resources?
For information on how to create a PDF please visit: https://www.wikihow.com/Create-PDF-Files
Can you provide an example of the PDF document of combined images formatted for submission?
Click here to see an example using images from last year’s commissioned artwork by Rachel Hsu.
Are there restrictions on the size of files submitted?
Yes. Combined PDF image files should not exceed 10 megabytes. To ensure that your image files do not exceed 10 megabytes, see this guide. It may be necessary for you to “reduce or compress” your PDF documents before submitting them.
Proposal
Does my proposal need to serve any functional purpose?
Any type of temporary installation may be proposed. Proposals may be purely formal explorations of space or materials or exhibit some functional use (such as seating or shade).
How closely must my proposal respond to the site or the Parkway?
Successful proposals will engage both Maja Park and the Parkway, however applicants are invited to consider such engagement widely and creatively. Proposals shall be appropriate in scale, material, and content for the site.
Are there other questions or themes my proposal should address?
Successful proposals should explore the ways in which art can engage with the audience and respond to the site. No other specific considerations must be met, and we look forward to inventive and creative responses to this prompt.
Will maintenance be provided?
The award recipient is responsible for any ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the artwork while it is installed at the site.
Will the installation be outdoors in all weather?
The installation must be able to withstand being outside through the summer and early fall (four months). Proposals must be able to withstand rain, wind, direct sun, varying temperatures and humidity, and other environmental conditions.
Are there material restrictions for the installation?
Other than functionality, durability, budgeting, and safety, there are no material restrictions. However, the project must be self-contained and not require constant monitoring or electrical power. We encourage the use of sustainable/recyclable materials
How safe must the installation be?
Installations must be able to withstand the wear and tear of weather exposure and heavy public interaction. aPA will work closely with the winning applicant to make any necessary structural modifications, suggestions, or additions.
For safety reasons, we will not select any proposal that enables the public to climb to unsafe heights, access hidden or enclosed spaces, touch materials that could be unsafe in direct sunlight, or encounter sharp or otherwise hazardous edges or protrusions. The selection team will require design modifications to any questionable design feature that poses a potential hazard to the general public or the site.
Will I be able to dig into the ground, create a foundation, or otherwise secure my installation?
Installations are temporary and no permanent foundation or lasting changes to the park can be made. The site must be restored to its original condition.
Can I attach my installation or artwork to the trees or light posts or use the trees or lightposts for rigging?
It is not permitted for the artwork to attach to trees or light posts in any manner.
Can my proposal be sited on any of the sidewalks or the central plaza?
No, proposals may only be sited on the lawns noted on the Maja Park site plan. Proposals may not block or otherwise impede any of the walkways or paved areas.
I would like to engage the Maja sculpture directly, is that permitted?
It is not permitted for the work to attach to or touch the Maja sculpture in any manner. However, proposals may engage with the sculpture thematically or through site placement.
Will there be lighting at night?
There will not be any dedicated lighting for the project. Ambient park and plaza lighting exists at the site.
Will there be any security?
No, there will not be any ongoing security or monitoring of the site or installation during the period it is on view.
Eligibility
Can collaborative teams apply?
Yes, teams may apply. Please note that regardless of the number of team members, there is only a single project award of $15,000.
Are there any age limitations for applicants?
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age or older in order to apply.
I consider myself creative, but do not have an educational or professional background in a creative field. Am I eligible?
Yes, there are no specific requirements for educational or professional credentialization however, applicants must demonstrate their ability to execute a public project of this scale in an outdoor environment.
Can non-Philadelphia residents apply? Can non-US citizens apply?
The competition is open to entrants who live or work in the Greater Philadelphia area. To receive the project commission and award, an applicant must have a US tax ID number or Social Security number. Award recipients will be responsible for their project related tax obligations.
I live in Philadelphia, but my artistic partner lives outside the region, are we eligible to apply?
Yes, if you are applying as a team, as long as one team member lives or works in the Greater Philadelphia region, you are eligible.
Are travel funds provided to team members or consultants from outside of the Philadelphia area? Or, are shipping costs paid for?
There are no funds available for travel or accommodations or for shipping or delivery. Any travel or transportation needs should be included in your $15,000 project budget.
Can I submit more than one proposal?
No. Individuals may only submit one proposal, either alone or as part of a team.
Funding and Production
Is there additional funding?
No additional funding will be provided.
I have other funding sources, can I use these to support my project?
No. The project must be realized and installed within the $15,000 project budget.
Must I account for in-kind support in my budget? For example, access to a free source of materials or access to fabrication facilities through my workplace?
You are free to use in-kind support and this need not be accounted for within the $15,000 project budget. Please add a note to your budget explaining any in-kind support.
How will payment be submitted to the finalist?
A payment of $10,000 will be made upon Signing a Letter of Agreement with aPA; the remaining $5,000 upon completion and public opening of the project.
Do I need insurance?
General insurance for permitting and installation will be arranged by the aPA. Fine art insurance for the artwork will not be provided.
How many hours should the commissioned project take to install?
It entirely depends on the scope of your project and its complexity.
How long can I work on-site to create the installation?
Projects may be prefabricated off site or constructed on site. The installation schedule must be mutually agreed upon by all parties but must occur during normal park hours of operation.
How many people can I have working on the site?
As many as are reasonable and appropriate given the conditions of the site, or as otherwise approved by aPA.
May I propose an installation created through public participation?
Yes, you may engage the public in any participatory design and creation of the artwork. All proposals will be reviewed to ensure public safety, and all participants installing the work on site must be over 21.
Is there parking near the site?
There is timed street parking on Park Towne Place road located between 24th and 22nd Streets bordering Maja Park and Park Towne Place Apartments. There is also metered parking on the Parkway inbound, outer lane in front of Maja Park.
Can I have materials delivered to the site?
Yes, however deliveries to the site will need to be coordinated with aPA and the artist must be present onsite to accept deliveries.
Can I alter my proposal once commissioned to realize the project ?
The recipient of the commission will work closely with aPA to understand the demands of the commissioned proposal and discuss possible issues with construction, materials, schedules, and siting that may affect the final design.
How long will the project be on view?
The installation will be on view for roughly four months. We encourage the commissioned individual or team to find opportunities for their project to find new homes or to be repurposed, or for project materials to be recycled or reused.
Who owns the rights to the commissioned design?
Copyrights are retained by those who create the design proposals. The aPA, Parkway Council, and PPR reserve the right to reproduce the finalist’s images of the design and installation for their own uses.
Will the project receive any publicity?
Yes, the aPA, Parkway Council, and PPR will publicize the installation and seek media coverage
Will any public programming take place during the time the project is on view?
We anticipate hosting an opening event as well as an artist’s talk with the commissioned artist, and additional programming may be offered.