Community Murals

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Murals are an important form of public art that can have a profound and positive impact on a city and its well-being. They help transform spaces, encourage people to engage with their environment, shape a community’s identity and deter graffiti vandalism.

Murals can foster wonder, pride, inspiration and a feeling of safety and are a powerful tool for making cities more vibrant and meaningful places to live.

Budget Allocation

Since the program’s inception in 2011, Capital City Clean Up has funded more than 70 murals.

In 2024, our Community Mural Grant will again offer organizations, licensed businesses or community leagues a maximum of $8,000 to help fund the creation of a mural within the community.

Grant Funding

This funding can be used for consultations, artist services, paint supplies, anti-graffiti coating or other needs associated with the creation and installation of a mural.

Community Mural Grant Projects for community leagues, non-profit organizations or licensed businesses will be eligible for funding based on a matching funds basis
Matching funds cannot be provided by other City of Edmonton source

Note: Grant funding for the Community Mural Grant is provided on a reimbursement basis.

Key Dates

March 1 - May 15, 2024
Grant application submission

May 31, 2024
Applicants notified by email about application decision

November 29, 2024
Final reporting for grant recipients due

Eligibility Criteria

Grant applicants must be non-profit organizations, licensed businesses or community leagues.
Location of the mural must be an external wall or asset with high visibility.
The location of the mural must be on private property and not City of Edmonton property (Community League buildings are permitted).
The legal property owner must provide written permission.
25% of the requested funding must be matched through finances, donations, or in-kind contributions towards the mural project’s total cost. This contribution may include staff labour, mural supplies or cash towards the mural project. For example, if the mural organizers request $8,000 from the City, they would be expected to contribute at least an additional $2,000 toward the mural total cost.
Must submit a proposed budget, project timeline, and mural mockup or thumbnail sketch with application.
Project should have at least 1 community engagement component that can be anecdotal or numerically measured.

The City reserves the right to deny requests that do not merit public support or are mainly personal, private, political, polarizing or commercial in nature. Please note that advertising, political messages or content deemed as offensive or hateful will not be accepted for grant funding.

Conditional Acceptance Criteria

Only needed after an applicant is successful in the selection process (as a condition to funding):

Proof of $2,000,000 in liability insurance
Final report at the end of the project that includes receipts and before/after photos by November 29, 2024

Other:

A development permit is required if you intend to incorporate text within your mural. Development permits can be obtained by visiting Permits, Development and Construction.
Community Leagues and those leasing on City of Edmonton Parkland are required to have project approval by the Parkland Facility Development Team.

Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

Eligible Expenses

Honorarium and fees for artists. This includes creative design, production or consultation.
Wall preparation and painting supplies (including but not limited to: paint, brushes, rollers, sandpaper, plaster and protective coatings).
Lifts and equipment rentals for larger murals.
Anti-graffiti coatings.
Costs associated with community engagement (examples: education/teachings of the art to the artists working on the mural, learnings/honorariums about the background or meaning of the created art, flyers, advertising or surveys on the mural).
- May not exceed 25% of the complete project budget
- Copies of these materials must be provided in the final report as well as a summary of the results involving the mural or feedback surveys conducted by the applicant

Ineligible Expenses

Hosting costs for production or project celebrations
Ongoing operating expenses for an organization
Ongoing salaries for an organization
Facility maintenance or repair, including maintenance to an existing mural
Expenses incurred prior to application approval

Application Process

Application Checklist

A photo of the mural location
A mockup or thumbnail sketch of artwork for the project
A Proposed Budget Sheet (if you don't have Excel, please email capitalcitycleanup@edmonton.ca for a Google Sheet format)
Permission from the property owner if different from the Applicant: the legal address and property owner must be included in the letter
Proof of $2,000,000 liability insurance (can be submitted after you have been approved for funding)

If you require assistance with your application, please contact capitalcitycleanup@edmonton.ca.

Submit Your Application

Application submissions accepted between March 1-May 15, 2024.

Please Note: This application requires a Google account sign in. If you do not have this please contact capitalcitycleanup@edmonton.ca for alternate options.

Apply for Grant

Download Grant Guide

Application Assessment and Scoring

Due to high demand and limited funding, grants are awarded to applications that score the highest based on the following criteria:

Mural Vision, Timeline and Budget

Includes clarity of the intent for the mural, feasibility of funding, timelines and capacity of the organization to have a successful project.

Project Alignment and Scope

How well the project aligns with the goals of the City of Edmonton such as:

Community Engagement and Collaboration

What types of community engagement or involvement will take place before, during or after the project.

Graffiti Vandalism

Takes into account areas that have been hard-hit by graffiti vandalism and who may be using a mural as a deterrent to future vandalism.

Mural Preservation Plan

Have considerations been made to ensure the mural’s longevity including any pre-planning done and any maintenance plans?

Mural Longevity

With careful planning and consideration to technique and materials and with regular maintenance, a mural can have a long lifespan. Several factors impact a mural’s longevity including:

Paint used for the mural:
- Aerosol (spray can) - lifespan to hold colours can be around 5-10 years, are less durable particularly on highly sunny facing /UV affected walls
- Acrylic house paint - lifespan to hold colours can be around 10+ years, some paints say lifetime
Mural wall surface material and wall preparation:
- Certain surfaces impact the duration and lifespan of a mural (for example, new plywood will hold paint longer than a brick wall).
- Each surface of a wall needs to be prepared to be painted on. This may be as simple as painting an undercoat or using a high-pressure cleaner or sanding.
Exposure to sunlight/UV:
- Using paint that has good UV protection will help retain the mural’s colour over time. Some high-end paints have a lifetime guarantee while others will say 25 years.
- There are some UV protection coatings that can be applied after the mural is completed that will help reduce colours from fading.

There are many great publications out there to help you plan and maintain your mural.

Government of Canada: Creating a New Mural
Government of Canada: Conservation Guidelines for Outdoor Murals
Mural Routes: Mural Production - A Resource Handbook, 2nd edition
Paint Spot: Mural Tips for Artists
Public Art Best Practices
Public Art Maintenance Plan Template Example
American Institute for Conservation “Mural Creation Best Practices” Guide

Reporting Requirements

Final reporting is required to complete the grant requirements and receive the reimbursement. Applicants must submit all follow up paperwork by November 29, 2024. The final report must include:

Final Report and Survey
Final Budget Sheet (if you don't have Excel, please email capitalcitycleanup@edmonton.ca for a Google Sheet format)
All receipts and invoices for eligible expenses
Photos of the final project (please have at least 1 photo without people)

Grant recipients may be asked for proof of payment.

Note: Reporting submitted after November 29, 2024 will not be accepted.

Contact Us

Capital City Clean Up

If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Email	capitalcitycleanup@edmonton.ca
Phone	311
Fax	780-498-7098