Title
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Percent for Art Programs.
Body
WHEREAS, 50 years ago, in March of 1959, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia under Chairman Michael Von Moschzisker, established the first program in the United States requiring redevelopers of public land to devote 1% of construction costs to the fine arts, and in December of 1959, Philadelphia City Council under Mayor Richardson Dilworth passed an ordinance calling for 1% of all City building costs to be dedicated solely for the purpose of "Fine Arts" including sculptures, monuments, murals, mosaics, bas relief, stained glass and fountains; and
WHEREAS, In his testimony to the National Conference of Editorial Writers, Mr. Von Moschzisker argued that "Experts now find that beauty increases productivity. It necessarily follows that true functionalism in man-made edifices must include artistic expression. Sterility and her handmaiden, monotony, must be banished"; and
WHEREAS, The goal was and continues to be providing each public space with its own unique, creative and specific public identity adapting to and drawing inspiration from the building and the character of the surrounding environment; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia program became a model for the rest of the country prompting Baltimore in 1964, San Francisco in 1967 and a host of other cities in the U.S. and around the world to follow Philadelphia's lead, enacting similar legislation; and
WHEREAS, These Percent for Art programs have resulted in over 600 works of art and are in part responsible for Philadelphia holding the distinction of having the largest and most renowned public art collection in the world; and
WHEREAS, This vast and sweeping collection can be found at so many Philadelphia institutions such as the Airport, Zoo, Criminal Justice Center, high-rise commercial and residential towers as well as housing for families and the elderly, police and fire stations, parks, librar...
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