The City of San Luis Obispo’s Public Art Program is seeking artists to help transform a blank retaining wall into a lively mural located on the intersection of Elks Lane and South Higuera Street.
The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the “Heart and SLO: Celebrating the Essence and Spirit of Community” mural. Design submissions will be accepted through Friday, September 27, 2024.
SLO’s Public Art Program is looking for designs that celebrate the county’s diverse backgrounds, honor the rich history, and highlight forward-thinking spirit. Whether it’s the stories of indigenous peoples, agricultural roots or the innovation that drives everyone forward, they want this mural to tell it all. The mural will be installed as a vinyl wrap on the retaining wall at the intersection of Elks Lane and S. Higuera Street and artists will receive a $5,000 stipend for the purchase of their art.
“San Luis Obispo is bursting with creative talent, and this is an exciting opportunity for local artists to leave their mark on our community,” said Amanda Grieshop, the City’s Public Art Coordinator. “The Heart and SLO mural isn’t just about art—it’s about celebrating who the City is and where the City is headed. We’re eager to see proposals that capture the essence of SLO and inspire our residents and visitors alike.”
This RFP is open to individual artists, artist teams and community groups with a designated lead artist residing in San Luis Obispo County. Artwork must be original and adhere to specified guidelines, including the exclusion of advertising, religious or political content and certain imagery.
Applications will be reviewed by City staff and a selection committee (Art Jury) comprising of local artists, community members and representatives from various organizations.
Selection criteria include artistic excellence, originality, appropriateness of content and the artist’s experience with similar projects.
For more information, please visit www.slocity.org/PublicArt.