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: https://www.peoplesbudgetoffice.org and IG @peoplesbudget4philly
Political Education
Each spring, during Budget Season (March–June), PBO leads Budget 101 and 201 workshops in neighborhoods across the city. These sessions make the multi-billion dollar city budget accessible, breaking down how it works and how residents can influence it. We dive into topics like safety, education, and public spending priorities—meeting people where they are, in language they understand.
Love Park Installation
In 2023, we began the People's Budget Office at Love Park, an installation that educates residents about the city budget and provides a platform for inquiry and advocacy. Participants learn about the proposed budget through printed resources, council hearings, and convening and are encouraged to add their funding priorities and advocate at public hearings.
Each year, artists in residence interpret the budget and create artwork that visualizes those issues: such as libraries, illegal dumping, art in schools, taxes and progressive revenue, alternatives to incarceration, and harm reduction.
Front view of People's Budget Office
Back wall of People's Budget Office facing 16th Street
Advocacy
We gather input from hundreds of residents through creative surveys and conversations. This data is translated into visual reports and advocacy tools that support community-led campaigns. Through public testimony prep, storytelling, and print materials, we connect imagination to action.
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)
Collaborative team and partners
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 faciltiated by artist Phoebe Bachman in collaboration with Ro Adler, Eleanor Barba, Sarah Bishop-Stone, Aaron Brokenbough, Blanche Brown, Pamela Chuang, Laura Duarte Bateman, Josh Graupera, Oscar Gresh, Sterling Johnson, Erme Maula, Maria Möller, Ingrid Rafaël, Lili Razi, Arshayla Robinson, Root Catalyst, Erik Ruin, Samantha Rise, Eugenio Salas, Ricky Yanas, and Lily Xie.