Art on the Parkway Competition - Philadelphia
Open call competition for temporary public art installations in Maja Park, organized by Association for Public Art and Parkway Council.
The Art on the Parkway competition is an annual open call for artists to submit proposals for temporary public art installations in Maja Park along Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This is the second year of the competition, organized by the Association for Public Art (aPA) in partnership with the Parkway Council and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. The 2025 winner, Nicolo Gentile, created 'Bar None,' a powerful installation composed of 17 police barricades featuring digitally laser-engraved historical photographs spanning from 1899 to 2023. The work explores the Parkway as a site of assembly and collective action, incorporating images of protests, celebrations, pride marches, and civic gatherings. Artists are invited to develop site-specific concepts that respond to the historical and cultural significance of this civic space. The competition provides artists with the opportunity to create meaningful public art that engages with Philadelphia's community and history. Winners receive a commission to realize their proposed installation, which remains on display for an extended period. The competition emphasizes works that explore themes of civic engagement, community gathering, and public discourse, encouraging artists to research and respond to the rich history of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as a site of social and political action.