Philadelphia Art Commission

As part of the Department of Planning and Development, the Art Commission is Philadelphia’s design review board. It ensures that development in Philadelphia is beautiful, orderly, and appropriate so that the City is a desirable place to live, visit, and do business.

As part of its duties, the commission reviews the designs of:

All construction projects located on City property or funded with City money. Anything constructed or installed on or over the public right-of-way. All public art to be acquired by the City or placed on public property. The commission was created in 1911 as the Philadelphia Art Jury. It became the Philadelphia Art Commission with the adoption of the Home Rule Charter in 1952. After more than 100 years, the Art Commission’s mission is much the same as when it was founded.