In-Progress

The People’s Budget: Year 4

artist Various Artists
  • location Philadelphia
  • Neighborhood

    Citywide

  • completion date

    July 01, 2024

About the Project 

Municipal budgets are more than numbers, they narrate the future of our city. The city budget impacts every aspect of our daily lives, but understanding these crucial documents can feel distant and complex.

The People’s Budget is an ongoing public art initiative designed to educate and empower everyday Philadelphians to engage in the budget process. Learn how your priorities translate into funding, and advocate for the issues closest to your heart – whether it’s quality education, affordable healthcare, safe and clean streets, or accessible public spaces like parks and libraries.

As we prepare for Fiscal Year 2025, there are several ways to witness and get involved in the People’s Budget. From March through April, we are hosting a series of neighborhood Budget 101 art-making workshops in collaboration with local partners. Then, we will head into City Hall for a People’s Budget Roundtable to hear from residents, advocates, and business owners about their budget concerns. In May-June, we will continue the People’s Budget Office at LOVE Park with a series of artist residencies and public events.

The project will expand upon research from previous years and focus on core themes that emerged from the People’s Budget Office in FY24. Throughout the project, artists will interpret these themes through research, community engagement, and public output.

Neighborhood-Based Workshops 

March – April

From March through April, the People’s Budget is hosting a series of Budget 101 workshops across the city. The workshops will provide an opportunity for Philadelphian’s to learn more about the budget process and speak about what they want to see funded. At the workshops participants will contribute to a collective artwork about their neighborhood’s funding priorities.

Workshops 

RSVP for all workshops

Kensington
Saturday, March 30, 11:00 – 1:00 pm
124 E Indiana Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134
In partnership with IMPACT Services

South Philadelphia
Monday, April 1, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
In partnership with Friends of Whitman Library

Fairhill
Monday, April 8, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Village of Arts & Humanities, 2544 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19133
In partnership with the Village of Arts and Humanities

Nicetown
Thursday, April 11, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
1648 W Hunting Park Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19140
In partnership with Kendra Brooks’ Office

West Philly
Tuesday, April 16, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Blackwell Library, 125 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19139
In partnership with the People’s Budget and Philly Revenue Project

People’s Budget Roundtable at City Hall

April 25, 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Caucus Room, City Hall, 1400 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107
In partnership with Kendra Brooks’ Office and the Philadelphia Revenue Project.

The People’s Budget Roundtable is a performance that mimics a budget hearing with residents, business owners, advocates, and city workers, speaking to issues that matter in the proposed budget. City departments and council will be invited to witness and engage as performers ask questions, propose line items, and reflect on the positive work the city has been doing. The Caucus room in City Hall will be transformed to represent the many community conversations that led up to the event, with printed tablecloths and backdrops.

People’s Budget Office at LOVE Park

May 1 – June 21
LOVE Park, 1600 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

The People’s Budget Office returns to LOVE Park! The office will continue to serve as a resource hub and engagement space to learn about the city budget and contribute funding priorities. Resident artists will host weekend workshops at the Office as a way to creatively engage people in the budget. Artists in residence include, Sterling Johnson, Eleanor Barba, Ingrid Raphaël with designer in residence, Illkya Acosta.

Location
LOVE Park, 1600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Open Dates
May 1 – June 21
12-6 Tuesday, Wednesday
12-4, Saturday

The People’s Budget Office will be open on additional days for programming.

The People’s Budget Resource Center provides an up-to-date listing of events, hearings, and information associated with Philadelphia’s City Budget process. Follow us @peoplesbudget4philly Instagram.

Get Involved
Submit your FY24 budget priorities to the People’s Budget Office.

The People’s Budget is led by artist Phoebe Bachman in collaboration with Ricky Yanas, Sterling Johnson, Eleanor Barba, Ingrid Raphaël, Illkya Acosta, Christopher Cannito, Naomi Roberson-Reid, Jennifer Kates, Erme Maula, Winter Schneider, Kimberly Cook, and Arielle Klagsburn.

The project is created in partnership with the Councilmember Kendra Brooks’ Office, and the Philadelphia Revenue Project.

Artists

Illkya Acosta

Phoebe Bachman

Eleanor Barba

Sterling Johnson

Ingrid Raphaël

Ricky Yanas

Funders 

Julia & David Fleischner

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