PRESS CONTACT: Margot Berg
Public Art Director
City of Philadelphia
215.686.4596
ARTIST-DESIGNED BIKE RACKS COMING TO PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia, May 1st, 2013 – Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy in partnership with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia will launch an open competition inviting artists and designers to create unique and creative bike racks for Philadelphia. The project is made possible by a $50,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge.
Of the ten largest cities in the United States, Philadelphia has the most bicycle commuters per capita. With so many people commuting by bicycle, the demand for bike racks is steadily increasing. Philadelphia is also world-renowned for its extraordinary collection of public art, and is home to a large and growing population of artists. An artist-designed bike rack competition will serve the need for additional bicycle parking, raise awareness about the convenience and fun of cycling, and will continue to solidify Philadelphia’s identity as a city of great public art. Potential designs will be judged by an independent selection panel.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to partner with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia to bring functional public art into our built environment, that both beautifies our City and helps support efforts to promote bicycling and sustainability ,” Philadelphia’s Chief Cultural Officer, Gary Steuer, said. “It’s a way of reinforcing the critical role the arts can play in everyday civic life.”
"In Philadelphia, our hope is that everywhere you go, you have an encounter with art – to experience a moment of inspiration that brings people together and helps strengthen a sense of community. These artistic bike racks will be a fun way to help weave culture into people's everyday lives," said Dennis Scholl, VP/Arts at Knight Foundation.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge is a $9 million initiative supporting innovative projects that inspire and enrich Philadelphia’s communities.
About the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy
The mission of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is to support and promote arts, culture and the creative industries; and to develop partnerships and coordinate efforts that weave arts, culture and creativity into the economic and social fabric of the City. The Office manages and oversees City arts programs, provides policy advice to the Mayor and other Administration officials and serves as the primary point of municipal contact for local organizations, businesses, artists and creative entrepreneurs. For more information, visit creativephl.org.
About the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
Making bicycling better through advocacy and education, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) promotes biking as a healthy, low-cost, and environmentally-friendly form of transportation and recreation. Founded in 1972, BCGP is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that serves the Pennsylvania counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia as well as South Jersey. For more information, visit bicyclecoalition.org.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more information, visit KnightFoundation.org. Contact: Andrew Sherry, Vice President for Communications: 305-908-2677, media@knightfoundation.org.