The budget is more than numbers—it’s a blueprint for Philadelphia’s future.
At the People’s Budget Office, we envision a thriving city, teach Philadelphians how the City Budget works, and provide pathways to advocate for change. In order to build a city that works for all of us, we must first imagine it.
Founded in 2021, the People’s Budget Office (PBO) is a socially engaged art project I lead in collaboration with Mural Arts Philadelphia. PBO turns city budgeting into a civic and artistic process—merging public art, political education, and collective imagination.
We use tools like teach-ins, artist residencies, surveys, printmaking, and participatory design to bring Philadelphians into the budget process—not just as spectators, but as co-authors of what a fully funded city could be.
For up-to-date information visit: peoplesbudgetoffice.org and IG @peoplesbudgetoffice
Front view of People's Budget Office
Back wall of People's Budget Office facing 16th Street
The People and the Library (Photo by Simone Partridge)
The People and the Library, Artwork by Erik Ruin (Photo by Simone Partridge)
The People and the Library (Photo by Simone Partridge)
Resident Artist, Aaron Brokenbough
Poster Installation 2025
The People’s Budget Office is produced by Mural Arts Philadelphia in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Budget Office (2021–2023), Philadelphia Revenue Project, Love Park, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Alliance for a Just Philadelphia, Committee of Seventy, the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, PACDC, PA Youth Vote, Philly Student Union, Resolve Philly, and the Village of Arts and Humanities. Council Offices include: Councilmember Bass’s Office, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s Office, Councilmember Kendra Brooks’ Office, Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke’s Office, and Councilmember Rue Landau’s Office.
The project is facilitated by artist Phoebe Bachman in collaboration with Sarah Bishop-Stone. Current and former Artists in Residence, Budget 101 Facilitators, and designers include: Ro Adler, Eleanor Barba, Aaron Brokenbough, Blanche Brown, Pamela Chuang, Laura Duarte Bateman, Josh Graupera, Sophie Greenspan, Oscar Gresh, Sterling Johnson, Erme Maula, Maria Möller, Ingrid Raphaël, Lili Razi, Arshayla Robinson, Root Catalyst, Erik Ruin, Samantha Rise, Eugenio Salas, Ricky Yanas, and Lily Xie.