Author: Axel Soderlund

How the Philadelphia Museum of Art Gives back to the City

Axel Soderlund on

Walking up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, numerous people can be seen visiting the beautiful view of City Hall that was shown in the first Rocky movie. Unfortunately, a lot of them don’t venture past the steps, choosing to skip the rest of the museum altogether. Most people even refer to the area as the Rocky Steps instead of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. Although many think of the museum as just a tourist attraction and a movie location, it is much more than that. The Philadelphia Museum of Art takes notable action to make art more accessible to the public and grow people’s appreciation for it.

Museum History

’72 stone steps before entrance of Philadelphia Museum of Art, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.’ Photo by Valeriyap

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the nation’s finest, holding over 200,000 pieces reflecting the city and world’s art. It established its Department of Urban Outreach in 1970, with the goals of reaching new audiences and bringing art into Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. Throughout years of new programs and initiatives, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has stayed grounded in its “belief that the arts can positively transform society.” Read more about PMA’s history here.

Community Outreach

‘Art on display at Sister Cities Park is part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Inside Out program.’ Photo by Thom Carroll

PMA has partnered with many Philadelphia organizations to host art events outside of the museum. One example is PMA’s Inside Out Program, which brought high-quality reproductions of the museum’s works to outdoor spaces and communities across the Philadelphia. By inviting communities to experience the artwork, PMA gave artistic opportunities to people who possibly wouldn’t have been able to view the works at the museum, or wouldn’t have had any previous interest in visiting the museum.

Artist Memberships

The Philadelphia Museum of Art offers discounted membership programs to artists who work in mediums shown in the museum’s collection. Artists create the work that make museums such special places, and PMA strives to make itself more accessible to them.

Friday Nights

‘Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art – every Friday night starting at 5pm.’ Photo by Derek Brad

Admission is also cheaper on PMA’s Friday Night Lounge nights, when the museum stays open until 8:30 and hosts Philadelphia musicians, DJs, and performers. By lowering admission prices and transforming the museum into a place for celebration, PMA invites a new audience of people not interested in the typical art museum experience. The Friday Night celebrations are a great way to get more people in the doors and interested in art.

Kids Programs

Delivering accessibility across all ages, PMA’s Art Kids Program welcomes families to bring their children in for a more interactive museum experience. The Art Kids program offers art classes where they can take guided tours through the galleries and participate in hands-on projects. With this art workshop, PMA makes an artistic experience specifically curated for children. It gives a different age range the opportunity to interact with art in a way that best suits them.

Partnering with Schools

Beyond its own classes, PMA has partnered Philadelphia schools, aiming towards getting art into the hands and minds of the youth. Partnering with the Friends Select School, PMA has run a program that involves students visiting the museum several times throughout the year to study art in the context of the time periods they are studying in the classroom. This immersive form of education can facilitate a deeper understanding of art’s value, and grow the students’ appreciation for it. In addition to partnerships with specific schools, PMA often offers free bussing and guided tours to a wider range of schools.

Highlighting Diverse Perspectives

‘Installation view of The Time Is Always Now, with Thomas J Price’s monumental bronze sculpture As Sound Turns to Noise (2023).’ Photo by Sarah Croop

This past winter, PMA took the initiative to provide those benefits for students to visit the exhibition: The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure. This exhibition is a great example of PMA highlighting the voices of underrepresented groups. The mix of works brought from London’s National Portrait Gallery and works by Philadelphia artists, aimed to use painting, drawing, and sculpture to display the nuance and richness of Black contemporary life. Highlighting the accomplishments of diverse groups is important because it can empower and inspire the people of those groups who don’t know about the artistic success of people just like them.

Representing Philly Art

While it shows art from diverse groups and perspectives, PMA doesn’t forget to emphasize Philadelphia’s artistic identity. It has a section consisting of all sorts of works made in Philadelphia, ranging from furniture to paintings to silverwork. While many of the world’s most well-known art museums focus on globally recognized art, PMA does a great job of accentuating the art of its own area, surely inspiring Philadelphia’s future artists to uphold the city’s creative legacy.

Philadelphian Art at PMA – April 2025. Photos by Axel Soderlund

While the Philadelphia Museum of art is a great place to view art, it also works hard to make art more accessible to the people of Philadelphia. Through all of its initiatives and programs, PMA shows that it cares about making opportunities for people to get involved with art. It stays true to its Department of Urban Outreach’s goals and cultivates a community that can truly appreciate the arts.

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