On Sunday, June 27, 10 Arcadia staff and faculty members plus family and friends went on a 2-hour tour of Mural Arts Program (www.muralarts.org) murals in Center City and West Philadelphia. Riding an open-air trolley, the group viewed more than 35 custom-painted murals on neighborhood houses and buildings. The group made stops at several of the murals to get a closer look.

During the tour, the Program guide explained the creative process and the history of the murals, as well as details such as the average number of gallons of paint used (10,000), the life expectancy of a mural (20 years) and the cost ($10,000 to $25,000). The creation of a mural involves an alliance between the artist, the community and the program. There are currently over 3,100 murals in the City of Philadelphia with 100 added each year.

Below are highlights of the tour. Photos courtesy of Donna Smith. The tour was organized by Staff Council.