Mural Arts Philadelphia is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, writes Shannon Eblen for The New York Times.

Since its inception in 1984 as the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network, the organization has been helmed by its tireless leader, Jane Golden.

In the decades since, Mural Arts Philadelphia has evolved from working with graffiti artists to engage them in public art to growing its influence to create more programming and building connections.

“The work just grew, grew, grew, and our ambition grew, to make sure every neighborhood had art,” Golden said.

That work, placing thousands of murals across the city, has helped earn the city of Philadelphia the unofficial moniker, “The Mural Capital of the World.”

According to Mural Arts, there are between 4,000 and 4,500 murals across the city.

Philadelphia’s impressive array of murals has caught the attention of other cities, like Chicago and Detroit.

“Every single day there are city leaders from across the country, talking to Mural Arts about how to do what we do here, there,” said Conrad Benner, founder and editor of Streets Dept and a project manager for Mural Arts.

This led Mural Arts to establish the Mural Arts Institute to share information, and offer resources and training.

Read more about how Mural Arts Philadelphia has positivity impact the city for the last 40 years in The New York Times.

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