Oak Park Seeks Muralist Submissions for Municipal Campus Project
(Oakland County Times, March 11, 2024)
Oak Park, MI – Local mural artists are invited to submit their ideas for a paid mural project on the wall of the Oak Park Library.
A press release sent by the City describes what’s needed:
The City of Oak Park is searching for a muralist who is ready to inject vibrancy into the municipal campus while highlighting the City’s diversity through their artwork. This mural will be located on the east exterior facing wall of the Oak Park Public Library, so it is also vital the piece support the Library’s goal of projecting a welcoming environment and its overall mission.
Other key pieces of the future mural should be that it:
• Creates a point of interest in Oak Park
• Serves as a destination that inspires pride in the City
• Deepens sense of place and community identity
“The City of Oak Park was long known as the ‘Family City,’ and this legacy continues today,” said City Manager Erik Tungate. “Our City continues to grow to meet the needs of the families we have in Oak Park and a bright and vibrant mural will certainly add to the quality of life here.”
Not only will this mural be located on the side of the Oak Park Public Library, but it will face the City’s future Event Hub, which will include a four-seasons farmers market and event space, amphitheater, memorial garden and outdoor gathering spaces.
“We are really excited about the opportunity to feature a significant piece of art that aims to celebrate the vibrancy of Oak Park’s unique history, diverse residents, our City campus, and Library,” said Oak Park Public Library Director Kimberly Schaaf. “This project hopes to add inspiration and pride in our City by placing art in a location that will directly face our forthcoming new Event Hub, to be located in the space between City Hall and the Library.”
Just as the City hopes the Event Hub will draw thousands of people for various programs and activities, the Oak Park Public Library already has a long history of doing just that.
The Library is currently visited by about 7,000 area residents each month. It continues to be a place celebrated by the community with a mission to “provide materials, services and information to the diverse community within the City of Oak Park to meet the community’s lifelong educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs.”
The current maximum budget for the mural project is $12,000. This is inclusive of all fees and expenses, including but not limited to the artist’s fee, materials, design costs, travel costs, equipment, installation of the artwork and any other associated costs.
All submissions are due to the City of Oak Park by 5 pm on April 8, 2024.
Once submissions are received the Library Mural Public Art Ad Hoc Committee, which is comprised of Oak Park staff, residents and a City Councilmember, will review them. The Ad Hoc Committee will then make a recommendation to City Council regarding the selected mural.
The final selection will be decided by City Council and require final approval from Mural Review Board, who will review the mural to ensure it is in compliance with the City code of ordinances.
The mural must be complete by Sept. 30, 2024.
“What’s really great about this project is the fact that it is the direct result of collaboration between residents, the City Administration, the Library, and City Council,” said Schaaf.
For additional information on the proposed project area and requirements for the submittal process please visit oakparkmi.gov or view the RFP directly.
