Avenue of the Arts Becomes an Outdoor Gallery

With the launch of AveArts 2.0, Philadelphia’s most iconic street is transforming into something extraordinary: a living gallery where art, greenery, and city life intertwine. Over the next decade, visitors and residents will encounter sculptures, interactive installations, banners, and bold new works that celebrate Philadelphia’s creative energy and artistic independence. This is art you don’t just view when passing through—you walk through it, live among it, and feel inspired by it every day—imaginative, fearless, and unmistakably alive.

Call for Artists: 2026 Installations

In 2026, Philadelphia will be center stage for the world, hosting the 250th Anniversary of America, the FIFA World Cup Finals, and the MLB All-Star Game.

The Avenue of the Arts will welcome millions of visitors during this once-in-a-generation moment. Our goal: to transform the Avenue into a vibrant canvas of creativity and civic pride, celebrating both the city’s artistic soul and its founding spirit of freedom and expression.

Artists are invited to bring this vision to life through current and future opportunities.

ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES

Public Art Banners

Philadelphia-based artists—painters, photographers, graphic designers, and creatives of all kinds—are invited to design a new series of light-pole banners that will line the Avenue of the Arts in 2026.

We’re looking for artists who can capture what makes this city bold, independent, and unlike anywhere else—through color, movement, and imagination.

Theme: Philadelphia’s Creative Spirit and Freedom of Expression
Deadline: January 16, 2026, by 3:00 PM (no exceptions)
Artwork: Four designs (two coordinated diptychs)
Installation: Late May 2026
Banner Size: 4’ x 9’, double-sided
Location: Lombard to Washington
Award: $1,800 per selected artist

Download the Design Banner RFP.pdf

APPLY NOW

For general inquiries and questions about these initiatives please email: Art@AvenueoftheArts.org