River Mural Designs - Invitational Only

StreetSpark is seeking original designs for a mural along the Great Miami River in Hamilton, Ohio. This invitation-only application is for semi-finalists chosen via the StreetSpark selection process. The design will be painted during the summer of 2024.

The mural site is located on a levee section in Hamilton along the Great Miami River and bike path, directly across from the Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill, Warehouse Hotel at Champion Mill, and the Champion Mill Conference Center. The brick building above the mural wall was significant to Hamilton's paper mill industry. Artists should create designs that can easily be repaired, with limited fine detail and blending due to potential future levee wall repairs.

Applicants must submit one finished design concept using the provided template (large file size suitable for enlargement on a movie theater-size screen) and a 150-word design description. Designs will be scored on excellence in execution and artistic skill, creativity and originality, enhancement of community character and sense of place, and suitability for the wall's unique requirements. Designs must be engaging and approachable for a wide range of public audiences, with no religious or political messaging, profanity, derogatory imagery, advertisements, or logos. All work must be original and not taken directly from copyrighted materials.

Payment: $300 for semi-final design concept, $700 stipend for final selected artist, and approximately $7,000 for the selected artist to complete the mural (35-40 seven-hour work days). If a design is selected, the artist must abstain from submitting designs the following year but will be invited to serve on the Design Selection Committee. Eligibility: Artists and designers age 18+, with experience in mural creation and team management. Experience operating scissor lifts and bucket lifts is preferred but training will be provided. Applications must be submitted through the online form; physical artwork will not be accepted.