PHILADELPHIA. – The City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation announce routine conservation maintenance treatments for the Rocky statue, scheduled for May 7-8, 2024.
Over two days, a team of professional public art conservators from Heritage Conservation Collective will clean and wax the statue between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Located at the entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Kelly Drive and Benjamin Franklin Parkway), the Rocky statue receives periodic maintenance to protect the appearance and longevity of the bronze surface.
“The Rocky statue is beloved by residents and visitors of Philadelphia alike,” said Marguerite Anglin, Public Art Director of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. “Regular cleaning and waxing protects Rocky from weather-related damage and deterioration and helps preserve it for generations to come.”
Temporary barriers and signage will be in place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 8 to indicate ongoing conservation work. The barriers will be removed each day after work is completed, ensuring that the statue remains fully accessible and safe for visitors.
Rocky was created by artist A. Thomas Schomberg in 1980. The statue was gifted to the City of Philadelphia by Sylvester Stallone and is part of the City’s permanent collection of over 1,000 public artworks.
For more information about the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, visit CreativePHL.org and follow @CreativePHL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the city’s prosperity and its people’s progress through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. For more information visit www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
