Ogden City Olympic Mural

Ogden City’s Public Art Program seeks to commission an individual artist, or a group of artists, that will work together as an artist team with the Ogden City Arts staff and the Ogden City Arts Public Art Selection Committee to design a mural in celebration of the forthcoming 2034 Olympic Winter Games to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah and the surrounding region. The selected artist or artist team will design, fabricate, and install a mural celebrating the 2034 Olympic Winter Games at the parking structure located along Kiesel Avenue in downtown Ogden, Utah. The selected artist or artist team will be expected to collaborate with the Ogden City Arts Advisory Committee, Ogden City Arts, and project stakeholders.

PUBLIC ART SCOPE

Ogden City, in collaboration with Visit Ogden, the MarketStar Foundation, and MarketStar, seeks a vibrant mural to celebrate Utah's upcoming 2034 Winter Olympic Games. Located on Kiesel Avenue, the mural will connect Ogden's dynamic Junction District and iconic Historic 25th Street, two of Ogden's most prominent downtown corridors. The artwork will symbolize local pride, celebrate Olympic spirit, showcase Utah's stunning natural landscapes, and highlight Weber County's cultural history. The artwork is anticipated to become a social media hotspot, boosting tourism and economic growth, while marking the region’s anticipation of the 2034 Winter Olympics.

The selected artist(s) will design, fabricate, and install permanent artwork to the exterior of the identified parking structure along Keisel Avenue.  The artwork will be located on the west side of the parking garage that serves patrons of Ogden Eccles Conference Center, Peery's Egyptian Theater, and MarketStar. It measures 436 feet long and 35 feet tall and totals 15,260 square feet.

The selected artist or artist team will be asked to collaborate with the chosen artist/artists for Ogden City’s open Kiesel Ave Cable Project artist call.  The art from that project installation will be installed on the cable system that is attached directly to the parking garage wall where the new 2034 Olympic Mural will be placed.  The two installations must be complementary to each other. 

IMPACT

This artwork will be an inspiring 2034 Winter Olympic Games welcome statement and a long-lasting celebration of the region’s connection to winter recreation, athletic excellence, and international unity. It will honor Utah’s Olympic legacy, the spirit of winter sport, and the vibrant cultural identity of the region.  The mural will be viewed by pedestrians, commuters, athletes, and visitors.

The commissioned artwork is intended to capture the excitement, anticipation, and global spirit of the Games, while paying homage to the region’s unique relationship to winter sports.  It is also intended to embody the values of the Olympic movement: excellence, respect, friendship, unity, perseverance, and cultural exchange.

This call does not request direct use of Olympic trademarks, logos, or protected imagery. Emphasis should be on interpretive, thematic inspiration rather than official licensed or trademarked branding.

MEDIA & MATERIALS

The selection committee is open to reviewing qualifications from artists producing mural type artwork of any media that is durable, low maintenance.  Artwork could be created using diverse media, including, but not limited to painted murals, reliefs, mosaic, and sculptural applications. Durability and ease of maintenance is important at this location. Materials must be suitable for outdoor display.

SITE PHOTOS AND PLANS (see addendum)

The location for the Olympic mural is located along Ogden’s Kiesel Avenue on the west side of the parking garage that serves patrons of Ogden Eccles Conference Center, Peery's Egyptian Theater, and MarketStar. It measures 436 feet long and 35 feet tall.

The project requires selected artists or artist teams to coordinate and communicate closely with the Public Art Selection Committee and city staff

BUDGET

Total Project Budget: $110,000

The budget for this commission is $110,000.  These funds come from Ogden City, Visit Ogden, and MarketStar. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to: the artist’s or artist team’s design fee, other consultation fees such as structural engineering consultations, structural/electrical engineering documents, insurance (including Utah Workers Compensation), tools, materials, etc.

Commission fees also include the costs of fabrication, transportation, permits, installation, any building or site modification required, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, a contingency to cover unexpected expenses, and any other costs. No additional costs will be reimbursed by the City of Ogden.

For all work performed on City property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

ESTIMATED PROJECT SCHEDULE*

*Dates subject to change

• February 2026: RFQ released following budget approval (8-week call)
• March 20, 2026: Submission Deadline
• March 2026: RFQ review and artist selection
• May 2026: Artist notification
• May-June 2026: Concept development with Arts Advisory Committee
• June 2026: Final proposal review and approvals (Legal, Streets, Risk)
• July/Fall 2026: Installation and ribbon-cutting ceremony

ELIGIBILITY

This project is open to artists nationally. Ogden City Arts is committed to building a public art collection that represents a broad range of artists and perspectives and strongly encourages applicants at various stages in their career and applicants practicing a variety of artistic disciplines. Utah and local Ogden artists are strongly encouraged to submit qualifications.  Employees of Ogden City are not eligible to apply for this commission.

PROJECT SELECTION COMMITTEE

The Ogden City Public Art Selection Committee consists of voting members of the Ogden City Arts Advisory Committee, Ogden City Staff, project stakeholders, and technical advisors as appropriate. This may include art professionals, artists, community members, project stakeholders, and more. 

The Ogden City Arts staff facilitates the selection panel process but are not voting members.  Other non-voting members may include staff, consultants, and/or stakeholders.  Non-voting members assist with the process and answer questions related to the overall project. 

The Selection Committee is responsible for establishing criteria, writing a request for qualifications, reviewing applications, selecting and interviewing finalists, and identifying an artist or artist team for the commission.

SELECTION PROCESS

Artists are selected through an equitable process by an artist selection panel.  The Selection Committee will evaluate all submissions and identify finalists.  Artists or artist teams may be selected to share preliminary concepts, research, and explain site integration. If selected, artists will be paid an honorarium for this work. This honorarium will be applied toward the commission amount for the artist(s) awarded the commission.

From these submissions, one artist or an artist team will be selected to create public artwork for the site. The final recommendation of the Selection Committee will be presented to the Ogden City Arts Advisory Committee and the Mayor of Ogden for final approval. All decisions of the City of Ogden are final.

The Selection Committee reserves the right to not choose any of the artists or artist teams if they are deemed unacceptable. Ogden City reserves the right to cancel this project at any time before the contracting process.

Once selected as the winning proposal, Ogden City Arts will provide as much information and access as possible to assist in the artist’s research while developing their artwork/project.

APPLICATION DELIVERY

Interested artists may submit applications online through CaFÉ. https://www.callforentry.org/

Register at www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ) and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for this Public Art Request for Qualifications.

Applicants will be asked to provide:

·         Letter of interest of not more than 700 words. This letter should include the artist’s reasons for interest in this project in particular. In doing so, the artist should also describe how his/her work and/or experience relates to the project. For instance, the artist may include a description of how your past work informs how you would approach this project. This letter should also include examples of any past community engagement activities you have led.

·         CV/Resume- Submit a current resume (no more than two pages in PDF format) that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist. If applying as a team, please submit one resume with one page per team member.

·         Professional References- (up to three) Provide contact information for references that have experience working with you, or in-depth knowledge of your art and working style in the public realm.

·         Ten (10) images of previous site-specific public work. All image formats must comply with the CaFE specifications and sizes.

Ogden City Arts will not be responsible for applications delayed or lost due to technical errors. Faxed or emailed applications cannot be accepted.

The Ogden City Art Selection Committee reserves the right to withhold the award of a commission or re-release the call for entries.

ABOUT OGDEN, UTAH

Nestled at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, Ogden, Utah is a city of innovation, creative spirit, and outdoor adventure. With a deep history tied to winter recreation and a thriving arts community, Ogden is proud to contribute to Utah’s role as global host of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. This mural will stand as a tribute to athletes, visitors, and residents who celebrate the power of sport to bring the world together.

MORE INFORMATION

Please contact Ogden City Arts Administrator Lorie Buckley at loriebuckley@ogdencity.gov with questions related to this call.  Please include the artist name and contact information in all correspondence. 

Additional information about Ogden City Arts can be found here.

DEADLINE

Complete application must be RECEIVED on or before March 20, 2026, by Midnight, MDT.

Interested artists may submit applications online through CaFÉ. https://www.callforentry.org/

Register at www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ) and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for this Public Art Request for Qualifications.

Applicants will be asked to provide:

·         Letter of interest of not more than 700 words. This letter should include the artist’s reasons for interest in this project in particular. In doing so, the artist should also describe how his/her work and/or experience relates to the project. For instance, the artist may include a description of how your past work informs how you would approach this project. This letter should also include examples of any past community engagement activities you have led.

·         CV/Resume- Submit a current resume (no more than two pages in PDF format) that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist. If applying as a team, please submit one resume with one page per team member.

·         Professional References- (up to three) Provide contact information for references that have experience working with you, or in-depth knowledge of your art and working style in the public realm.

·         Ten (10) images of previous site-specific public work. All image formats must comply with the CaFE specifications and sizes.

Ogden City Arts will not be responsible for applications delayed or lost due to technical errors. Faxed or emailed applications cannot be accepted.

The Ogden City Art Selection Committee reserves the right to withhold the award of a commission or re-release the call for entries.

This project is open to artists nationally. Ogden City Arts is committed to building a public art collection that represents a broad range of artists and perspectives and strongly encourages applicants at various stages in their career and applicants practicing a variety of artistic disciplines. Utah and local Ogden artists are strongly encouraged to submit qualifications.  Employees of Ogden City are not eligible to apply for this commission.