For the second time in three years, Philly has snagged the top spot as the Best City for Street Art in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. A panel of experts made the nominations, and the people voted the City of Brotherly Love number one.
The designation is not surprising, as Philly’s streets are graced with thousands of murals, sculptures and public art pieces around every corner. The accolades are due in large part to Mural Arts Philadelphia, an organization that’s been transforming the city since 1984. Over the past 40 years, they’ve created more than 4,000 works of public art, engaging local artists and communities in the process. Their efforts have officially earned Philly the title of “Mural Capital of the World.” On top of that, exploring it all is easy, whether on foot, on a bike or a trolley tour.
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Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Executive Director Jane Golden has dedicated her life to Philly’s street art scene. She told the Michelin Green Guide that art has the power to change lives, and she’s made it her mission to use creativity as a force for good in the city.
Even the Michelin Guide raves about it: “Few North American cities have shown such consideration to art and urban planning... Philly is practically an open-air museum.”
So next time you’re wandering the streets, take a moment to look up, look around, and appreciate the city’s vibrant, ever-evolving canvas. Philly’s got the art—and the wins to prove it.
Best cities in the U.S. for street art
- Philadelphia, PA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Jackson, TN
- Detroit, MI
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Chicago, IL
- Nashville, TN
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Portland, OR