Snap Philly on October 18 for Philly Photo Day

Philly Photo Day
Philly Photo Day

On Friday, October 18th we’re all invited to take Philly’s picture as part of the fourth annual Philly Photo Day. The result is a collectively created portrait of a day in the life of the city comprised of hundreds upon hundreds of snapshots gathered from amateurs and professionals alike. 

Last year more than 1800 photos were submitted to the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (PPAC) for Philly Photo Day. And the goal is to have an even higher level of participation this year.

As with last year, teaching artists will hold workshops at community centers around the city.  This year’s workshops will be longer (4-6 hours) to offer “more hands-on practice and collaboration with the teaching artist,” said PPAC Executive Director Sarah Stolfa.

New this year will be temporary community murals created from each community center session. There will be up to 20 different “digital murals” (tempoary murals  on vinyl) created with community center participants in partnership with the Mural Arts Program.

The idea was born out of the desire to put community members photographs out in their own community, Stolfa said. These murals will be installed for 6 months on the community center itself or very nearby.

Select Philly Photo Day submissions will also appear on 40 donated Clear Channel billboards throughout the city. Participate and you just might see your work prominently displayed somewhere around town. (We’ll also feature selections from Philly Photo Day on Eyes on the Street.) 

Come October 18th, grab your mobile phone, point-and-shoot, or digital SLR  – or head to a community center to use one of PPAC’s cameras  –  and set out into the city with the goal of capturing one interesting picture of Philadelphia. After that all you’ll have to do is submit your photo online and the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center will print and exhibit every single image in a huge group show that will run from November 14-December 28.

This year’s Philly Photo Day is made possible thorugh grant funding from PNC Arts Alive and a $75,000 Knight Arts Challenge matching grant. PPAC’s Philly Photo Day Kickstarter campaign ends Wednesday morning at 9:48am so there’s still time to help them complete their Knight Arts Challenge match via Kickstarter. You can also help PPAC meet its funding goals, you can make a donation starting at $10 online. 

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