Murals can add vibrancy to highly visible public spaces, foster community identity and civic pride, engage youth and deter graffiti. Proposing a mural for a District-owned or private property requires an application process.
A mural is either a painting on a wall surface, a digitally produced image printed on a substrate, a mosaic or a bas relief that is applied directly to a wall and that is visible from the public right-of-way.
The lifespan of a mural is typically between three to five years; after this, the mural may be removed or decommissioned.
Application process
Community Mural Applications must be submitted by an organization, not by individuals.
Application forms will be reviewed by Cultural Services and the Public Art Advisory Panel.
Community Mural Application Form
Criteria
Applications will be ranked based on the following criteria:
- public visibility of the location
- condition of the wall surface
- potential impact on adjacent properties
- community impact
- provision of additional funding by partner group(s) or community funders
- evidence of support from neighbourhood associations and/or adjacent neighbors/users (e.g., emails or letters of support)
Funding
The District’s Public Art Reserve Fund may or may not support a mural project with funding support depending on location and building ownership.
If District funding is requested, staff and the advisory panel will review proposals and determine if funding support is warranted.
Funding would generally be between $5,000 to $20,000 for artist fees, cost of supplies, insurance, project coordination. The project applicant may also fundraise, or finance privately additional costs required for a mural.
Questions
For any questions regarding the application process, please contact the Cultural Services Department via email at [email protected].