Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children Memorial

MoMCC, in collaboration with the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the City of Columbus, and the Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks, invites artists, artist teams, and design professionals to create a permanent public memorial honoring the lives of children lost to violent crime. The selected artist or team will design, construct, and install a permanent outdoor public artwork on the Columbus Riverfront, in a designated green space on the west side of the Rich St. Bridge, with a budget of $180,000.

The memorial should offer a contemplative experience for visitors and integrate with the surrounding landscape while serving as a striking visual representation of loss, resilience, and hope. Key design considerations include space for families to leave symbolic offerings such as locks or other tributes, a creative way to incorporate the original collection of locks removed in 2024, thoughtful approaches to lighting and signage, and a design that is durable, safe, and low-maintenance for an outdoor public setting. The artwork must comply with city regulations and receive approval from relevant city offices.

The memorial will be located in downtown Columbus, Ohio, along the Scioto Riverfront in a highly visible and active public space adjacent to COSI and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Since 2021, MoMCC and grieving families have placed "Locks of Love" on the Rich St. Bridge as symbolic acts of remembrance - gold colored, heart shaped, keyless locks engraved by family members during ceremonies that could draw 250-300 participants. Due to concerns regarding the addition of locks, these were removed, prompting the city to partner with MoMCC to develop this more permanent, intentional space for mourning, reflection, and advocacy.