Public Art Mural Program

In February 2020, the City of Longwood announced a Public Art Mural Program intended to improve access to art, create a tangible sense of place, and add color, vibrancy, and character to the built environment (Resolution 20-1521). The program allows building or business owners to apply for mural space on their building by dedicating a public art easement, providing an exciting opportunity to increase access to the art while creating a draw for residents, business owners, and visitors alike. Additionally, the applicant will receive an increase in the amount of allowable signage on other areas of the building.

If you’d like to learn more about this program or would like to apply, please contact the Community Development Department.

About the Program

Step 1: Preliminary Application

Building owners can submit their walls for consideration in the Public Art Mural Pilot Program. Business tenants can submit an application for a wall, but building owners must submit a letter of support and consent with the application form. The property owner, if different from the building owner, must also authorize all applications.

The costs associated with installing a mural are not covered by the City of Longwood and must be borne by the applicant and/or property owner of the wall where the proposed mural will be installed unless the City chooses to budget for the program in future years.

As an incentive to the building owner or business, the building owner/business will be allowed to utilize the square feet of signage that would have been used on the façade with the mural on another facade, or on their monument sign where applicable, pursuant to LDC 6.4.3(E).

Step 2: Location Appropriateness Review

The application shall include a preliminary easement location with documentation to support the below criteria. The Community Development Department will review the potential easement location for its suitability in terms of public access, safety, and factors consistent with the purpose of the Public Art Mural Pilot Program:

Premium consideration will be given to potential mural sites that:
Are safely visible from multiple vantage points and perspectives.
Do not create a potential safety issue related to parking and/or blocking access to streets or sidewalks.
Have continuous suitable blank wall space without loose or peeling paint, cracked stucco material, large cracks or broken bricks or concrete, or signs of water leaks.
Have exterior lighting.

Staff will make a recommendation to the City Commission regarding the appropriateness of mural location, and if the City Commission approves the mural location, the City Commission will make a Call to Artists.

Step 3: Call to Artist Guidelines

The City of Longwood will conduct a Call to Artists for a new, site-specific, original public art mural. The work of the artist should be of professional quality; the mural itself must also be of exceptional quality and of enduring value for the City. The mural should be professionally designed and executed with consideration to the following criteria:

Inform visitors about our shared history and heritage, celebrate cultural elements related to Longwood, or otherwise provide artistic value as determined in the Call to Artists.
Enhance the public and pedestrian environment by utilizing an attractive layout and color combinations.
Visual imagery must be appropriate for all audiences (not containing advertising, partisan politics, sexual or religious content).
Includes visual imagery that enhances the aesthetic experience within the City and the character and nature of the site.

Artist Submittal Requirements

Color scale rendering (no larger than 8-1/2” x 14”) of the proposed design, including any text.
A short narrative of the proposed work/project and how it meets the criteria of this section.
Lead artist’s qualifications and examples of previous work.
A work plan that includes surface preparation, primer, paint system, and clear coat. The mural must be coated with clear UV protectant paint to protect the mural from graffiti and ultraviolet rays.
Timeline for completing the project.
An estimate of costs associated with the project includes but is not limited to surface preparation, paint/materials, scaffolding, and labor costs.

City staff will review the submittals and provide a recommendation to the City Commission.

Step 4: Artist Selection and Easement Execution

The City Commission will consider submittals from the call to artists and, if an artist is selected, will direct staff to execute agreements with the artist and an easement agreement with the building owner formally dedicating an easement over the wall area to the City. The easement agreement will have terms acceptable to the City and include, at a minimum, the following stipulations:

The applicant will convey an easement for the purpose of installing, maintaining, operating, and exhibiting the artwork.
Murals approved through this process become part of the City’s public art collection for as long as the Art Easement remains in effect.
The Art Easement is for a period of five years. At the expiration of the initial five-year term, the easement may be terminated upon 30 days' written notice by either party to the other prior to the end of the initial term or such will be automatically extended thereafter on a year-to-year basis. During any one-year renewal term, either party can terminate the easement by providing at least 30 days' written notice to the other party.
The artist will agree to complete the work as described in an exhibit to the agreement.
The City is responsible for the maintenance of the mural during the existence of the easement. The City shall have the right to enter the property during normal business hours, and at all other times with advance approval of the Grantor, for any and all of the purposes described in the easement agreement.
The building owner/business will not receive compensation for the display of the mural and is prohibited from charging for access to the mural.
The building owner/business understands and agrees that it will not have copyright or ownership rights in or to the mural artwork image or the right to reproduce or profit from the image of such mural artwork in any manner.
The contract will require the artist or responsible party to submit proof of liability insurance.
The easement granted in this agreement shall run with the land and be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Grantor and the City, and their representatives successors or assigns, and any person or entity acquiring any right, title, or interest in the property.
The easement shall be executed by the owner and tenant of the building affected by the easement.

Step 5: Mural Completion and Approval

If the mural is provided at no cost to the City, the applicant must provide a $500 deposit to the City. This deposit is held in reserve until the project receives final approval from City staff. In the event that the mural does not meet the agreed-upon design, the City may use the $500 deposit to remove the mural.

If the mural is provided at cost to the City, the mural will be inspected at various points during its completion to ensure that it is being executed to the approved design before disbursing funds to the artist. If the mural is not executed according to the approved concept, the City retains the right to suspend payment to the artist and remove the mural.

Additionally, the mural shall be subject to, at all times, the editorial discretion of the City Commission.