Over the last four years, Mural Arts and Phoebe Bachman have worked together to produce the People’s Budget Office, a public art project about the city budget. These projects aimed to increase public awareness through popular education on the city’s budget process and offer a platform for residents to share what the city should fund. Artistic outcomes included Quilts handmade by residents across the city showing priorities for the budget, postcards to city council members, a People's Budget Festival, a series of People's Budget posters wheat-pasted across the city, a People’s Budget Office installation at LOVE Park, and a People’s Budget Roundtable Performance. The goals of these projects is to advocate, negotiate, collaborate, and dream of a city budget that is more just, equitable, and sustainable.

Artists, Researchers, and Activists are invited to participate in two-week residencies during the installation, visualizing and re-imagining the budget by creating new artwork. Participants can apply as individuals or as a collaborative team. During their residences, selected residents are asked to participate in city wide workshops, host one public event at the People’s Budget Office (workshop, teach-in, performance), attend a hearing at City Hall, and contribute something lasting to the People's Budget Office. Before the “in-office” residency, residents will need to attend a teach-in on the city budget and research their topic area. The project is created in partnership with Councilmember Kendra Brooks’ Office, Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke’s Office, and Philadelphia Revenue Project. The City’s Budget Office will host teach-ins on the budget process and provide important details about the proposed budget. Additionally, they will serve as a liaison to other offices as needed.