Louise Campbell Center for the Arts Mural Proposals

This is a call for mural proposals for the south wall of the Louise Campbell Center for the Arts, located at 521 Commerce Street, West Point, MS. The wall consists of five stucco panels separated by vertical brick columns. The mural will be installed on the front four panels, each measuring approximately 16 feet wide by 28 feet high, for a total area of about 1,800 square feet. Artists are encouraged to design a mural that utilizes as much of this surface area as feasible while responding thoughtfully to the architectural features, including the exclusion of paint on the brick columns.

The mural should celebrate the life, legacy, and lasting influence of Louise Campbell, whose love for the arts helped shape West Point's creative spirit. The mural should bring her story to life—capturing the color, energy, and community connection she inspired—and reflect the traditions she helped nurture, including the annual Prairie Arts Festival, local theatrical productions, community beautification projects, and parades. The goals are to honor Louise Campbell's lifelong dedication to the arts, beautify a key cultural site in downtown West Point, reflect the ongoing role of the arts in the city's cultural life, and inspire the community through a dynamic and original design.

The selection process occurs in three phases. Phase One: A Selection Panel will review all submissions and identify up to three finalists. Phase Two: Each finalist will receive a $500 honorarium to support development of a full proposal, which may include an optional site visit and consultation with community stakeholders. Finalists will present their proposals either virtually or in person. Phase Three: The Selection Panel will recommend one artist or artist team for final approval by the West Point Clay County Arts Council and the City of West Point. Once approved, the selected artist will enter into a contract to complete the mural.

Submissions must include an artist statement and proposal narrative, materials to be used including UV protection details, resume or CV, and up to 10 images of previous work. Selection criteria include artistic merit and originality, relevance to site and/or theme, feasibility and durability of proposal, and experience completing comparable projects. Finalist selection notification is February 1, 2026; finalist design presentation is March 15, 2026; artist selection notification is April 1, 2026; and mural execution is scheduled for May 2026.