Independent Arts News Reporting Jane Golden to Step Down as Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia After 42 Years of Transformative Leadership
Reported on September 2, 2025
Pictured Above: Jane Golden. Photo Credit: Steve Weinik.
NEWSROOM POST: PHILADELPHIA, PA
Under Jane Golden’s visionary leadership, Mural Arts Philadelphia became the nation’s largest public art program, creating more than 4,500 murals, employing over 250 visual artists each year, and earning national and international recognition for strengthening communities through public art.
Philadelphia, PA- Mural Arts Philadelphia announced recently that founder and Executive Director Jane Golden concluded her 42-year tenure in July 2026, marking a historic moment for one of Philadelphia’s most visible and respected civic institutions. Since 1984, Golden has redefined public art in Philadelphia, revitalizing neighborhoods, amplifying community voices, and transforming city walls into the world’s largest outdoor art gallery. She will continue to lead the organization through its 2025–2026 fiscal year while a national search for her successor begins this fall. Over the next year, Golden will guide major semiquincentennial projects and work closely with senior leadership and the Board of Directors to ensure a smooth and strategic transition. Following her tenure, she will remain connected to Mural Arts in an ambassadorial capacity — continuing her long-standing relationship with the organization.
“Art is how we tell our city’s story, and I’ve been honored to help write this important chapter,” Golden said. “It has been the privilege of my life to partner with thousands of artists, staff, and residents of Philadelphia to create work that speaks to our neighborhoods, our history, and our hopes. I believe deeply in what we’ve built, and in what comes next.”
Golden’s journey began in 1984 when former Mayor Wilson Goode hired her to address the city’s graffiti problem through the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network. She collaborated with graffiti artists and community members to create murals that reflected local stories, bringing visibility and vibrancy to overlooked public spaces. With the support of then-Mayor Ed Rendell, the Anti-Graffiti Network became the Mural Arts Program, a city initiative. The later creation of the nonprofit Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates established the hybrid structure that continues today, combining municipal partnership with independent nonprofit capacity to sustain the mission and expand impact.
Today, Mural Arts Philadelphia delivers more than 80 public art projects each year, employs over 250 artists annually, and stewards a collection of more than 4,500 murals across every City Council district. Its initiatives span participatory and commissioned public art, restorative justice, workforce development, behavioral health, and creative youth development.
Pictured Above: Jane Golden and Cesar Viveros painting Pope Francis mural in 2015. Photo Credit: Steve Weinik.
“Jane Golden’s energy, vision, and dedication have built a powerful model for community-centered public art,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Art changes lives. As we honor Jane’s remarkable impact on Philadelphia’s social and physical landscape, we look ahead with excitement to the future of Mural Arts.”
“Jane’s leadership shaped not only Mural Arts, but the way Philadelphia sees itself,” said Hope Comisky, Board Chair of Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates. “She built an institution grounded in collaboration, creativity, and civic imagination, and her influence will continue to shape its direction for years to come.”
The Board of Directors has established a Search Committee to work with a national search firm to identify the organization’s next Executive Director. The process will begin in fall 2025 and will prioritize leadership that reflects Mural Arts’ mission, values, and commitment to artistic excellence.
Recognized nationally and internationally, Golden’s honors are numerous and include the Philadelphia Award, the Hepburn Medal from Bryn Mawr College, and the Visionary Woman Award from Moore College of Art. She is a published author, an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a member of several advisory boards and councils.
About Mural Arts Philadelphia
Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. For more than 40 years, the organization has united artists and communities to create more than 4,000 works of art, strengthening communities through art in every Philadelphia neighborhood. Through projects that engage artists from Philadelphia and around the world, Mural Arts works in youth education, restorative justice, mental health, and public art preservation. Its popular mural tours draw visitors from across the globe, earning Philadelphia recognition as the “Mural Capital of the World.” For more information, visit muralarts.org.
