Murals

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FAQ

Q:How do I apply to be considered as a muralist?
A: Muralists who are asked to submit design proposals for each mural project will be chosen from a pre-qualified list selected by the Lafayette Public Art Committee. In the next few months the Public Art Committee will release the application guidelines and process for interested artists to apply for consideration to be included on that list.
Q:How do I suggest a mural site?
A: Email Jenny Rosen, Public Art Committee staff, at jrosen@lovelafayette.org and she will forward your suggestion to the committee.
Q:How do I submit my wall for consideration?
A: If you are a property owner with a high visibility wall downtown and are interested in having a mural painted on your wall, complete and return the Mural Site Host Statement of Interest form to jrosen@lovelafayette.org to indicate your interest in consideration.
Q:Do property owners have any say in the design choice?
A: The Lafayette Public Art Committee will consult the property owners to select the theme and potential artists. The design is chosen prior to entering into the agreement with the property owner. The Committee may select several approved designs and then, with input from the public, work with the property owners to narrow down the final mural design. The mutual selection process is settled prior to the agreement being finalized. The property owner will have the right of refusal of the final artwork design.
Q:How do I learn more?
A: There are three ways to sign up to learn more: 1) E-notifications: Sign-up to receive email notification about future Public Art Committee meetings and ways you can give your input at www.lovelafayette.org/e-notification and select "Public Art Committee." 2. Friends of Lafayette Public Art Emailing List: Email jrosen@lovelafayette.org to sign up to be on the Friends of Lafayette Public Art emailing list. 3. News: Click Subscribe Now, enter your name and email address, then scroll down to the News section and select "Almost Daily Briefing," "General News," and "Weekly Roundup" to receive the latest news from the City of Lafayette. This is the best way to keep up-to-date on what is happening in Lafayette.
Q:How does the public give input on a design?
A: An in-person meeting led by members of the Lafayette Public Art Committee will be held to present the initial design proposals. You’ll have the opportunity to talk with Committee members and provide valuable feedback to help shape the direction of the mural project.
Q:How long is the mural up?
A: The Mural Program will maintain the mural for a period of ten years, with five-year renewals possible, thereafter. These murals are designed and crafted to last in excess of 20 years, if so desired. The agreement does provide exit options if the property owner sells the property or undertakes a major renovation.
Q:If the property owner sells, what happens to the mural?
A: If the property owner decides to sell the property, the owner may remove the mural and restore the property to a similar condition as the property existed prior to the mural being painted on the wall of the property.
Q:What are the thematic categories?
A: The mural themes approved by City Council are: landscape, abstract, botanical, and historical representation. These themes are intended to provide property owners and the artist broad directional guidance.
Q:What is ABG Art Group?
A: ABG Art Group is a professional mural curation team hired to ensure timeliness and impeccable follow-throughs and together, with the City, create an authentic representation of Lafayette that serves our downtown businesses in an impactful way.
Q:What is the cost to property owners who volunteer a wall?
A: There are no installation costs for the property owner. The cost for the mural, from artist selection through installation, is funded from the budget allocated by the City for the Mural Program.
Q:Who maintains the mural?
A: The City has the maintenance responsibility and shall maintain the mural for the term of the agreement. If there is any damage to the mural, the City will attempt to consult with the artist or another competent artwork conservationist or restoration specialist to determine the best methods of such restoration or repair. If the mural cannot be restored or repaired during the term of the agreement, the City may have the mural removed.
Q:Who owns the mural?
A: The city retains all ownership rights to the mural as an artistic work.

Seeking Mural Site Locations

Transform Lafayette with a vibrant mural on your property! The Lafayette Downtown Mural Program covers funding and logistics. The Public Art Committee seeks mural sites on downtown's public-facing walls. For more information, click on the Call for Murals Sites Flyer link. If you are the property owner of a high visibility site in the downtown area and are interested in having a mural painted on your wall, please complete and return the Mural Site Host Statement of Interest form to indicate your interest in consideration.

Site Selection

If you are a property owner interested in having a mural painted on your wall, please fill out and sign the Mural Host Statement of Interest form, and return it to Public Art staff at jrosen@lovelafayette.org. The Public Art Committee (PAC) will recommend sites to the Lafayette City Council for their final approval. Not all sites are guaranteed for selection.

Press

Lamorinda Weekly, Lafayette 'Call for Walls' seeking locations for public murals by Lou Fancher

Call for Mural Sites Flyer

Lafayette Downtown Mural Program

The four-year program will create, over time, four outdoor murals in our downtown that evoke inspiration and enjoyment, and enhance the vitality of downtown Lafayette.

Lafayette City Council approved the Public Art Committee’s recommendation to implement a downtown mural program in June 2023. The Public Art Committee worked for over a year to draft a plan for a mural program that will bring works by local and nationally-recognized muralists to Lafayette’s business district over the span of four years with full and comprehensive public input for each design.

Public art murals can:

Evoke inspiration and wonder
Enhance the vibrancy of downtown
Generate a sense of pride and belonging
Create opportunities for shared artistic experience

The Lafayette Public Art Committee, working with the property owner, will direct the program, including designing a community-guided process for input on the design of each mural. After gathering public feedback and final approval from the property owner, the Public Art Committee will make the final recommendation and submit it to the Lafayette City Council for approval.

Mural Program Process

Once the PAC and City Council approve the location for a mural, the PAC, working with the expert mural curation team, ABG Art Group, will initiate an artist selection process using a vetted list of local and regional artists. The selected artist will use the mural theme guidelines approved by City Council along with the property owner’s statement of interest to select a thematic category and develop a design proposal. The imagery for the mural must not be associated with the business inside the building; use of murals for advertising is not permitted per sign code (Lafayette Municipal Code Chapter 6-25). Please note, the mural themes approved by City Council are: landscape, abstract, botanical, and historical representation. These themes are intended to provide property owners and the artist broad directional guidance.
Public input on design proposals will be solicited.
The property owner has the right of refusal of the final artwork design.
Artwork design approved by the property owner will be presented to the PAC and City Council for approval.
PAC and ABG Art Group will handle the permits and logistics for the mural’s production.
The Mural Program will maintain the mural for a period of ten years, with five-year renewals possible. The agreement will also provide exit options if you sell your property or undertake major renovation after five years.

Muralist Selection

Muralists who are asked to submit design proposals for each mural project will be chosen from a pre-qualified list selected by the Lafayette Public Art Committee. In the next few months the Public Art Committee will release the application guidelines and process for all interested artists to apply for consideration to be included on that list.

How Can I Learn More?

Sign Up and Learn More!

E-notifications: Sign-up to receive email notification about future Public Art Committee meetings and ways you can give your input at www.lovelafayette.org/e-notification and select "Public Art Committee."

Friends of Lafayette Public Art Emailing List: Email jrosen@lovelafayette.org to sign up to be on the Friends of Lafayette Public Art emailing list.

News: Click Subscribe Now, enter your name and email address, then scroll down to the News section and select "Almost Daily Briefing," "General News," and "Weekly Roundup" to receive the latest news from the City of Lafayette. This is the best way to keep up-to-date on what is happening in Lafayette.

FAQ

Q:How do I apply to be considered as a muralist?

Q:How do I suggest a mural site?

Q:How do I submit my wall for consideration?

Q:Do property owners have any say in the design choice?

Q:How do I learn more?

Q:How does the public give input on a design?

Q:How long is the mural up?

Q:If the property owner sells, what happens to the mural?

Q:What are the thematic categories?

Q:What is ABG Art Group?

Q:What is the cost to property owners who volunteer a wall?

Q:Who maintains the mural?

Q:Who owns the mural?