Downtown Adrian Mural Project - Michigan

The Downtown Adrian Main Street DDA seeks an artist or graphic designer with a connection to Adrian, Michigan to create a mural celebrating Adrian's history, natural beauty, and diversity. The selected design will be reproduced as a large-format vinyl mural on the east-facing wall of the Gallery of Shops building in downtown Adrian.

The Downtown Adrian Main Street DDA is seeking an artist or graphic designer with a connection to Adrian to create a mural design for downtown Adrian, Michigan. Artists with current or past connections to Adrian or Lenawee County are encouraged to apply, including residents, former residents, graduates, and others with significant ties to the community.

The selected artist will receive a $3,000 award for the selected mural design.

The mural will be installed on the east-facing wall of the Gallery of Shops building, located at 136 East Maumee Street. The wall is visible from South Broad Street and East Church Street.

The mural should celebrate Adrian's history, natural beauty, and diversity. Both representational and abstract approaches are welcome.

Approximate mural dimensions are up to 80 feet wide by 12 feet high. Designs may be conceived as a single composition or as a triptych.

The selected design will be reproduced as a large-format printed vinyl mural. Printing and installation will be provided by the Downtown Adrian Main Street DDA.

Installation is anticipated for September 16, 2026. The selected artist is expected to attend a ribbon-cutting event tentatively scheduled during Artalicious (September 19–20, 2026).

Entries will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of local artists, representatives of local arts organizations, local business owners, community members, and Downtown Adrian Main Street DDA representatives.

Submission Requirements

• Proposed mural design

• Artist statement (up to 500 words) describing the proposed mural concept and the artist's connection to Adrian or Lenawee County.

• Up to three supporting images or detail views of the proposed design

Artwork Requirements

• Hand-drawn, painted, digital, and mixed-media designs are welcome.

• Final artwork must be capable of being reproduced at approximately 80 feet wide by 12 feet high.

• Artists should create their work at a sufficiently large size and resolution to allow for high-quality large-format printing. Vector-based artwork is encouraged but not required.

• The selected artist will be asked to provide the original editable artwork file whenever possible.

• Specific production requirements will be provided to the selected artist after selection.

Additional Information

• AI-generated artwork will not be considered.

• Artwork must be original.

• The selected design will be printed substantially as submitted.

• Copyright in the selected design will be assigned to the City of Adrian.

This call is being administered by the Adrian Center for the Arts on behalf of the Downtown Adrian Main Street DDA.

Questions

For questions regarding this opportunity, please contact the Adrian Center for the Arts at officemanageraca@gmail.com.

• Proposed mural design

• Artist statement (up to 500 words) describing the proposed mural concept and the artist's connection to Adrian or Lenawee County.

• Up to three supporting images or detail views of the proposed design

Artist or graphic designer with a connection to Adrian.