M
ural Arts has secured a groundbreaking preservation agreement with local developer Ryan Spak, safeguarding public art projects for decades to come. The deal sets a precedent that could be adopted by communities nationwide to protect their artistic and cultural legacies.

    Philly, the nation's top city for street art, boasts over 4,500 murals, many of which are painted on privately owned buildings. However, these works are at risk of being erased when properties change hands. Spak's company has agreed to a lifetime easement with Mural Arts, protecting four existing murals and any future ones created at his nearly three dozen holdings.

    The deal allows Spak to sell his buildings if presented with an offer he can't refuse, but new owners must either recreate the mural elsewhere or provide a donation equal to its value. "Our company looks to do well and do good," Spak says. "This arrangement checks both boxes."

    Mural Arts has faced similar challenges in the past, including the removal of a Martin Luther King Jr. mural during a West Philly development. However, this agreement is unique because it was initiated by a developer and provides lifetime protection for the murals.

    The deal covers over 1,480 murals on private property, with Mural Arts losing about six per year due to development. Art officials and Spak believe this arrangement could spark more enthusiasm for preserving public art. "This transcends industries," says Chad Eric Smith, a Mural Arts spokesperson.