Call for Muralists
We are currently accepting applications for the inaugural West by Northwest Mural Festival in Port Angeles, WA.
A link to the google doc application is at the bottom of this page. Applications are due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday March 21st.
Applications will be reviewed by the West by Northwest Mural Committee (comprised of community artists) over the next few days. The five winning muralists will be announced on Monday March 24th.
The theme of the Festival this year is “Who is Port Angeles?” We promise we aren’t looking for pretentious answers. Click here to read more about our theme. Our theme is meant to be a creative prompt, not restrictive.
The Basics
The Port Angeles Waterfront District is commissioning five artists to create five murals to be installed on building exteriors throughout the Waterfront District. This murals will be owned and maintained by the Waterfront District. They will remain on buildings for at least five years.
We are looking for murals that are ~96 SF, which will be painted on three 4’ x 8’ MDO panels. The murals do not have to be rectangles. They can have interesting shapes.
The Waterfront District will provide all materials for the artist to create the mural. The District will consult with the artist once selected and purchase materials required.
The muralist will be required to complete part of the mural during the West by Northwest Mural Festival at the Hub from Thursday April 24th to Sunday April 29th. The Hub will be open to the Public during this time. The muralist will be asked to interact with the public a few times (If you hate interacting with people this doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker. Talk to us in the application.). The muralist does not have to be at the Hub for the entire festival, but is expected to be present for some of the festival. The muralist does not have to complete the mural during the festival. This is not a speed competition.
The muralist will be compensated with at least a $2,000 stipend for their mural. We are waiting on another grant application. If that comes through, the muralist will be paid more.
How it will work
Once the five muralists are selected we will give them a Contract. We will then talk to them about the wall owners who have signed up to receive murals.
We will try to match muralists with wall owners based on their applications and vibes. Consider the West by Northwest Mural Committee mural matchmakers.
The wall owners are not commissioning the murals, the West by Northwest Mural Committee is. Wall owners will get some very basic input. But their input will not be overbearing and will be monitored by the West by Northwest Mural Committee.
But we want everybody to be happy with the final product. The wall owner is committing to host a mural for at least five years.
The muralist will submit a rough sketch of the mural for approval by the West By Northwest Mural Committee after meeting with the wall owner and before the festival takes place from 4/24-4/27.
The West by Northwest Mural Committee with meet with you after reviewing your sketch to discuss art supply order and event.
The mural does not have to be completed by 4/27. The mural needs to be finished by the end of May.
The mural can be started (but not finished) before 4/24.
How this is funded
Public Art is important. Public Art by local artists creates more Public Art.
Why does this Mural Festival require a physical presence by the muralist? Partly because of our funding source.
We received a City of Port Angeles Lodging Tax Grant to pay for a mural festival to encourage people from out of town to visit Port Angeles. People from across the Puget Sound like public art and are fascinated by the creation of murals. By having murals created live in front of the public, we are able to utilize Lodging Tax dollars to encourage visitors to Port Angeles AND to beatify our District. Lodging tax dollars are collected from overnight visitors by hotels, motels, and short term rentals. Lodging tax dollars do not come from taxes of locals.
We are also funded in part by the Parking Business Improvement Area Assessment, which is paid for by Waterfront District merchants. Thank your downtown merchants for beautifying the District!
Our Inspiration
There are some other amazing mural festivals out there.
We are inspired by what the Up Here Festival has done to Sudbury, Ontario, Canada over the last decade.
The Noisy Waters Mural Festival up in Bellingham is also producing amazing public art right now.