‘Art for All’ project will enlist unhoused participants and local artists to paint Central Library parking garage
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Summary
Raisin McIntosh’s Raisin in the Sun presented a pilot to pair unhoused participants with mural artists to transform the Central Library garage. The pilot aims to pay participants same-day cash, train artists on de-escalation, and launch installations in 2026 with a public unveiling in 2027.
Raisin McIntosh, founder and CEO of Raisin in the Sun, presented “Art for All,” a public-art pilot that will bring together unhoused participants and local muralists to transform the Central Library parking garage into a curated mural destination.
McIntosh said the project’s central idea is to pair people experiencing housing insecurity with professional mural artists and pay those participants same-day for on-site assistance during installation. “On that day, we get to pay them same-day pay. They will receive anywhere from $200 to $250 in cash that day,” McIntosh said. The project will use a lottery and pre-registration system in coordination with partner homeless services organizations.
Raisin in the Sun said it has recruited about 45 artists for the pilot and plans to engage more than 100 unhoused participants over the course of installations. The project includes on-site social-service support provided by partners including Caritas, the Hungry Hill Foundation, Integral Care and others, plus training for artists developed with Mural Arts Philadelphia.
Project leads described a schedule that moves from public engagement and design through the winter and into installation in spring 2026. McIntosh told commissioners she expects painting to begin in March 2026 and installations to continue through 2026, with a broader public unveiling early in 2027. Raisin in the Sun said it has budgeted $250,000 for apprentice and assistance payments, and that the initial mural canvases will exceed 10,000 square feet.
The project will prioritize language access, community storytelling and artist training. Planners also told commissioners they are developing maintenance and anti-graffiti coatings in coordination with Art in Public Places staff and city partners.
Why it matters: The pilot aims to provide immediate economic assistance and skills opportunities to people experiencing housing insecurity while creating a high-visibility public-art destination at the downtown library plaza.
What’s next: Raisin in the Sun plans outreach and public workshops through December 2025, additional artist training events in November and an installation schedule beginning in March 2026.