Access, Representation, and Community Engagement

Staircases and Mountaintops: Ascending Beyond the Dream section by Willis Nomo Humphrey. Photo by Steve Weinik.

Access, Representation, and Community Engagement 

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

At Mural Arts Philadelphia, we are deeply committed to expanding access, fostering artistic representation, and creating an environment where all voices are heard and valued. In collaboration with artists and partners, Mural Arts stewards 75–125 public art projects each year that reflect the rich and varied perspectives of communities, honoring their histories, struggles, and aspirations. Our murals tell stories of resilience, transformation, and shared humanity, serving as powerful expressions that spark dialogue, challenge perceptions, and inspire collective action.

However, our commitment to broad artistic engagement and cultural representation is not solely public-facing—it starts within our organization. We strive to cultivate a collaborative and welcoming workplace where all Mural Arts staff benefit from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. Our dedicated, staff-led committee regularly reviews organizational policies and practices to promote fairness, remove barriers to participation, and ensure that our work environment supports growth, innovation, and a sense of belonging for all. Through this process, recommendations for meaningful improvements are presented to our Executive Team for strategic implementation.

Additionally, we are intentional about recruiting and retaining a staff that reflects the breadth of Philadelphia’s artistic and cultural landscape. Our ongoing commitment ensures that every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique talents to our mission of using public art as a catalyst for social change and community engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity  

At Mural Arts, We steadfastly endorse a workplace that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, promising fair and equitable treatment for all employees.

Every employment decision we make, whether related to recruitment, hiring, promotions, demotions, terminations, compensation, performance evaluations, layoffs, transfers, training, or social programs, is based solely on individual qualifications and job requirements. We never consider factors such as race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, genetic information, familial status, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, or any status protected by law.

We strictly prohibit any behavior that interferes with this policy or discriminates based on legally protected characteristics. We also stand against any form of retaliation against those who support these principles.

If any member of our team feels they’ve been subjected to discriminatory, harassing, or retaliatory treatment, we strongly encourage immediate reporting to a manager or the Executive Team. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation, and if a policy violation is found, we will take swift and appropriate corrective action against the offending parties, up to and including termination of employment.

Our mission is to foster a respectful and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

To explore Career Opportunities at Mural Arts, visit https://www.muralarts.org/careers/.

Recent Blog Highlights 

Through our collection of blog posts, explore our commitment to Access, Representation, and Community Engagement and engage with thought-provoking discussions and inspiring stories from members of our staff and the communities we work with.

To read more, visit https://www.muralarts.org/blog/.