Call for Murals: Winter 2025

The City of Henderson is calling on all artists to design and create site-responsive murals in three public parks and in two locations on Water Street in our downtown corridor. Each of the five locations will encompass unique opportunities, creative challenges, and specific themes that we are asking artists to respond to in their proposals. 

The City of Henderson is calling on all artists to participate in this themed call. The selected artist(s) will be asked for their interpretation of the themes and their specific approach to the mural space: 

Site 1: Dos Escuelas Park, Conex Box (map)

• This storage box sits between two baseball fields and above one of our trail systems for a total of 476 square feet (approx. two 20ft. long sides that are 8 ft. tall) of paintable space. We are seeking submissions that are inspired by baseball and the site that is home to a park and two elementary schools.
• The surface of the box is smooth, painted steel with wide ridges.
• Budget: $14,280

Site 2: Boulder Creek Park Exterior Bathroom Walls (map)

• This bathroom structure is situated in the middle of a long, narrow park and focuses on the north and west walls of the building (approx. 12 ft. wide and 8 ft. tall.) The painted walls, that are approximately 215 square feet, will be visible from the park, a trail system, and a Boulder Highway, a major roadway. We are seeking submissions that consider these unique site conditions, make the bathroom site more welcoming, and create some interest in this active park space.
• Budget: $7,525

Site 3: Pumpkin Park Conex Box (map)

• This storage box and staff office (384 square feet) is located in Henderson’s newest community garden and is an important focal point and functional space for the park. We are seeking submissions that reflect and involve the park community and staff. This project will require a community engagement component in which selected artists work with stakeholders to design and create a site-specific mural.
• The surface of the box is smooth, painted steel with wide ridges with windows and doors on two sides.
• Budget: $16,520
• This budget reflects the cost to paint the surface, as well as funding for the community engagement component.

Site 4: No. 1 Boba Tea Social on Water Street (map)

• Located in downtown Henderson on Water and Army Streets, this wall is outside of No.1 Boba Tea Social, a local tea shop, and leads to the local, community art gallery called City Lights Art Gallery. We are seeking submissions for this 980 square foot wall (approx. 80 ft. long x 12 ft. high) that encompass Water Street’s “Go with the Flow” theme within the lens of our Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community members. For more information on the area and the “Go With the Flow” brand, visit www.waterstreetdistrict.com.
• This artwork will act as a welcoming feature to Water Street and to the activity on Army Street. The objective of this mural is to diversify the City’s public art collection by soliciting artworks that highlight Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultures and ways of being.
• Although this initiative is open to all artists, special consideration shall be given to artists or teams of artist who identify as Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
• The surface of the wall is a smooth stucco finish.
• Budget: $34,300

Site 5: Utility Boxes adjacent to Wells Fargo (map)

• Located in downtown Henderson on Water Street, just south of Pacific Avenue, this uniquely shaped utility box, along with smaller utility boxes attached to a building, sit in a prime location and is subject to tagging. We are seeking a mural submission that recognizes the history of the graffiti on the box but creates a new surface that is more inviting and considered. This mural submission should also consider the unique history and culture that is ever present on Water Street. For more information on the area and the “Go With the Flow” brand, visit www.waterstreetdistrict.com.
• The surface of the boxes are painted steel with many different fixtures attached to it that should be considered in the design.
• Budget: $5,580

Application Process:

• Mock-Up of Proposed Mural: Artists are limited to 2 pages to describe their proposed mural.
• Creative Approach: A written statement describing the proposed mural.
• Physical Approach: A written statement that describes the physical approach to the artwork including specific details about any special equipment or materials.
• CV/Resume
• For projects with a community engagement component, artists will be required to share the following:
  • Approach to community engagement for their specific project.
  • Examples of previous community engaged projects.
• Provide up to three examples of previous mural projects that you have completed.

Timing (subject to change): 

• Call opens on December 9, 2024
• Applications close on January 13, 2025 (11:59 PM Mountain Time)
• Artist will be informed of acceptance by February 10, 2025
• Selected artists will need to begin the mural(s) by March 31, 2025. Murals will need to be completed within 2 weeks of the start date:
  • Murals with a community engagement component may require a different timeline.
  • Additional time can be granted if coordinated in advance of project commencement.

Visual artists working in any physical medium may participate in the project. Artists eligible for the project include: Individual artists, Team(s) of artists (two or more collaborators), and College-based art programs. This call is open to artists above the age of 18 regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, or religion.