Summer 2026

Exhibition Location: Creative Philadelphia Art Gallery, Room 116 & Office of Councilmember Rue Landau, Room 592

Deadline for submissions: April 26, 2026

In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, Creative Philadelphia and Councilmember Rue Landau issue a Call for Art to Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community for a special Pride exhibition in historic City Hall. 

Theme

Philadelphia Stories 250: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Joy invites local artists to reflect on our founding ideals and respond to the promises of freedom, belonging, happiness, and to the lived experiences where those promises remain unfinished. Borrowing from the language of the Declaration of Independence, the exhibition centers on joy as a civic condition, as evidence of safety, acceptance, recognition, and the ability to be seen and exist fully in public life. To experience joy openly without apology is itself a meaningful expression of liberty.

So, what does it mean to experience joy openly? How does joy and visibility function as tenacity, resistance, and survival? Artists are asked to explore personal experiences and expressions, or more public stories, including historical narratives where the past informs contemporary struggles for dignity and recognition. 

One historical example from the Revolutionary War is the story of Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Baron Von Steuben, who was widely known for having had relationships with men. Von Steuben was the Inspector General in George Washington's Continental army at Valley Forge. He was a pivotal figure throughout the war, but may be best remembered for his field manual, which provided discipline and training to the army, even in subsequent years after the war. His story highlights a broader pattern in American history of individuals whose contributions help shaped the nation, even when aspects of their identities were unspoken, illegal, or excluded from public recognition.

This call is open to all mediums.  We ask that submitted works be no larger than 40" x 40" to accomodate various exhibition spaces within City Hall.

Jurors:

Joining Tu Huynh, Creative Philadelphia's Curator of Exhibitions and Programs, will be:

Lauren Rinaldi, the Arts & Culture Liaison for the Office of Councilmember Rue Landau, and Guest Juror, Arleen Olshan.

Lauren Rinaldi (b. 1983, Brooklyn, NY) is an American artist living and working in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Temple's Tyler School of Art and has exhibited her work in solo shows at Paradigm Gallery + Studio in Philadelphia, and extensively in group shows throughout the United States. In addition to her role in Councilmember Rue Landau's office as the Arts and Culture Liaison, she is a community activist and has served as a Democratic Ward Leader and Committee Person since 2018.

Arleen Olshan is a visual artist and activist who uses her artistic practice to preserve LGBTQIA+ history. She has been active in the LGBTQIA+ and Feminist Communities for nearly 60 years in Philadelphia and beyond.

Beginning in the late 1960s, Arleen worked with Radicalesbians and the Gay Activist Alliance. She was the co-coordinator of the original Gay & Lesbian Community Center (now William Way). From 1976–1986, she was the co-owner of Giovanni’s Room, the oldest LGBTQIA+ and Feminist bookstore in the country.

Arleen was one of the co-founders of the Mt. Airy Art Garage, a Northwest Philadelphia arts hub, gallery, and studio space.

 About Councilmember Rue Landau I At-Large

Rue Landau is a civil rights and housing attorney, a public school parent and the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Philadelphia City Council. She has spent her entire career fighting for social justice and equity for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable communities.  She has been an At-Large Councilmember since 2023.

For more information about Councilmember Landau, please visit: PhlCouncil.com/RueLandau. 

What is Art in City Hall

Creative Philadelphia's Art In City Hall exhibition program invites Philadelphia’s cultural community to present proposals to exhibit art in display cases in the public corridors of historic City Hall.

Art in City Hall is an exhibits program that transforms the public corridors of City Hall into a platform for the arts. It provides an opportunity for Philadelphia’s diverse cultural organizations  to present their artistic expressions and utilize the visual arts to amplify community voices, foster healing and community dialogue in the most important civic building in the city – The People’s Building. The program is committed to presenting a wide range of ideas and artistic explorations to showcase the important role the arts play in our communities.

Eligibility

Local nonprofits, art programs, and cultural organizations are invited to submit proposals. Collaborations between organizations and other partners, such as with local schools are welcomed, but one organization needs to lead the application process. Artists do not have to live in Philadelphia but including artists from the region is strongly encouraged. Artists can be self-taught or professionally trained.

At this time, we do not present solo exhibitions and encourage the organizations to select enough artists to utilize all the display cases in City Hall.

Exhibition Locations

15 exhibit display cases are located on the First through Fourth Floors of City Hall near the offices of the Mayor, City Council, and City Council Chambers.

Exhibition Dates

There are four exhibit opportunities year round. The calendar is usually booked up to six months or more in advance.

• May – July
• August – October
• November – January
• February - April

Exhibition Installation and Programming

Participating organizations are expected to deliver and install the exhibition and supply all exhibition hardware and printed materials. They are also expected to plan ONE educational program that complements the exhibition. OACCE may assist the partner organizations in the development and coordination of the exhibit programming, but the organization is responsible for all expenses for the events.

City Hall Hours

City Hall is open to the public Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and closed on weekends and holidays. Visitors must sign in at the Northeast corner Visitor’s Entrance, have personal belongings checked, and follow COVID protocols.