Philadelphia Museum of Art brings artwork inside out

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Monets, Renoirs and Cezannes are leaving the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a neighborhood near you this spring!

It's a 2-year program called 'Inside Out' that'll span 22 neighborhoods - it's free, casual, and right around the corner.

Reproductions are being hung outside, on courthouse walls, in schools, in restaurants, banks and in parks.

The idea: make art less formal, less intimidating and more fun! Something you come across unexpectedly as you go about your day.

"They can encounter a beautiful Monet on their way to get their coffee in the morning, or on their lunch break, they can see a Cezanne. It's really about these casual interactions with art," said Gina Ciralli, project coordinator.

Five communities have 11 or more paintings each this spring - in Media, Delaware County; Newtown, Bucks County; Haddonfield, Camden County; Chestnut Hill and along East Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia.

The art will stay for three months, then the pieces move to five new towns in the fall.

Each community has agreed to host at least one event but most have weekly tours.

"Some it's a biking tour, some it's a dog walking tour," said Katy Friedland, manager of special projects.

The reproductions are to scale with period frames and a marine grade finish to withstand the elements.

Each has a description why curators love it. No heavy art history. Just something to read for a couple minutes.

The hope is to entertain people too busy, or too intimidated to visit the regular Museum of Art - and also to bring out the spirit of imagination in everyone.

What do residents think it adds to the neighborhood feeling?

"A lot of nice charm - it's pretty," said MaryAnn Lucidi, South Philadelphia.

"Beautification absolutely," said Joe Uribe, South Philadelphia.

Ten more communities will get the art in 2016.

And people in every neighborhood are also being offered free admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on certain days.

Only Detroit, Miami, and Ohio have similar programs.