Public Art Mural Program
Background ~ Mural
Approval Process ~ Funding Criteria ~
Requesting
Funding for Murals ~ Mural Review Criteria
 Download
Mural Guidelines and Application (pdf)
Download
Art Easement Form (pdf)
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MURAL GALLERY
Portland, Oregon |
Background
The Public Art Murals Program is a Portland city-wide program administered
by the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) as part of its 25-year-old
Percent for Art Program. After over a year of collaborative city and community
planning, in December 2004 the Portland City Council voted to exempt all public
art from the City’s Sign Code and other land use reviews and approve the
Public Art Murals Program.
New murals will be reviewed by the Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC), a
standing RACC committee that meets monthly and is responsible for all aspects
of the city’s public art program. Committee members include artists, arts
advocates and professionals, and a representative from the City’s Design
Commission.
Deadlines: 4/1/08; 6/1/08.
Mural Approval Process
This process is only for large scale murals over 200 sq. feet.
• Make an appointment to meet with public art staff for
initial review of imagery, location, funding and building owner’s approval. Call
503.823.5111.
• Submit Public Art Mural Application,(download Mural
Guidelines and Application - pdf) including color rendering of proposed
mural,
photographs
of
site
and physical
surroundings,
project
timeline,
project budget, written description of proposed mural, site, wall preparation,
materials
and processes to be used (including protective coating), individuals/groups
involved, evidence of community support (e.g., letters from neighborhood
association, adjacent neighbors/businesses, petitions, etc.)
• Schedule mural proposal presentation at a monthly
PAAC meeting (every
third Tuesday at 12:30pm). Meeting notice and invitation to attend and comment
is sent to applicable neighborhood groups and individuals identified for
regular notification by the city.
•
Application reviewed by PAACA and decision made based
upon adopted selection criteria for public art murals (see p. 2). If proposal
is denied, applicant
may return to the PAAC for approval after addressing problem areas.
•
Building owner signs Art Easement Form (download Artwork
Easement agreement-pdf) which also is signed by City of Portland and
filed with City Attorney’s
office.
• Artist signs form agreeing to terms of Art Easement
agreement and waiver
of rights under the federal Visual Artists Rights Act that would interfere
with the performance of any rights under the Art Easement agreement.
• If receiving public funding, applicant signs agreement with RACC to receive
payments.
• Applicant begins painting mural.
•
Upon completion, applicant contacts Diana Lee Holuka,
Property Manager, at 503.823.6932, in the City’s Bureau of General
Services and RACC public art staff.
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Funding Criteria
Individual artists, not-for-profit organizations, and business owners are
eligible to apply for matching funds for the creation of murals. Funds will
be awarded based on need as evidenced in the application (download Mural
Guidelines and Application - pdf). Public art murals
may be (1) paid for in full by building owner who negotiates with artist; (2)
partially funded with public funds and matching private funds either through
in-kind or cash donations. Applicant must submit a budget that includes a listing
of expenses covered by public funding and those covered by in-kind/cash donations.
Public art murals will not be approved on historic landmarks or in historic
districts until RACC and the Landmarks Commission agree upon a review process
that best serves the public’s interest in these unique structures and
areas.
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Requesting Public Funding for Murals
Applicants may apply for public funding in amounts up to $15,000. Applications
will be reviewed at the monthly PAAC meeting following the deadlines (third Wednesday of every month). Public art staff will contact applicants with time,
date and location of the review. Applicants should be able to provide evidence
of a match to the public funds in either cash or in-kind donations.
If you are not seeking public funding, make an appointment with public art
staff to inform them about the proposed mural – artist, site, mural design,
timeline – and to schedule a presentation to the PAAC at one of their
monthly meetings. Following review and acceptance by the PAAC, submission of
required forms to the City, you may begin creating the mural.
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Mural Review Criteria
- artistic quality - strength of the artist’s concept
and demonstrated craftsmanship
- context - architectural, geographical, socio-cultural
and historical
- media - paint, collage, relief, etc.
- scale - appropriateness of scale to the surrounding neighborhood
- diversity - race, age, style, media, experimentation,
range of professional experience
- feasibility - budget, timeline, etc.
- originality - uniqueness
- structural and surface soundness - resistance to vandalism
and weather
- building owner’s signed easement form - minimum
of 5 years unchanged, on site
- building owner’s signed agreement for maintenance
- over life of mural
- community support – general support/advocacy from
building owner/user, surrounding neighborhood, adjacent businesses, and arts
community
- lighting provisions (if any) - as allowed by City Code
- public safety - meets city codes for safety
- accessibility - meets city codes for accessibility
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RACC Staff to Contact:
Eloise Damrosch
Executive Director
503.823.5400
edamrosch@racc.org
Kristin Law Calhoun
Public Art Manager
503.823.5401
kcalhoun@racc.org
Peggy Kendellen
Public Art Manager
503.823.4196
pkendellen@racc.org
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