02 Dec OPEN CALL for “It All Flows Into the Savannah” Storm Drain Mural Project 2025
The Greater Augusta Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Augusta, GA and in partnership with the Richmond County Board of Education (RCBOE) and Phinizy Center for Water Sciences is seeking artists to work with the students and teachers at up to seven RCBOE schools to design and paint sidewalk murals at selected locations at
each school for the 2025 “It All Flows Into the Savannah” Storm Drain Mural Project. This project is part of the City’s education and outreach efforts to raise awareness about storm water pollution. It is a yearly program that combines environmental education by staff from the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences with a sidewalk mural designed by the students, based on the environmental stewardship lessons covered by Phinizy Staff.
Previous murals can be viewed online at https://augustatours.opentour.site/storm-drain-murals-tour .
This project is supported through City of Augusta Engineering Storm Water Services Program funds.
APPLY HERE: https://augustaarts.info/Storm-Drain-App-2025
Background: When it rains, storm water runs over pavement, sidewalks, and yards picking up oil, litter, yard waste, chemicals, and other pollutants. The polluted storm water then flows down storm drains, through storm water pipes that empty directly into our local creeks and rivers without treatment. Storm drains can also become a hot spot for illicit dumping – trash, grease, pet waste, paint, cigarettes, and more. These pollutants make their way to the Savannah River, damaging the health of our waterways, flora and fauna. This project seeks to educate Richmond County families on our responsibility to protect our waterways and keep pollutants out of storm drains.
Mural Locations/Size: Storm drains to be painted will be located at seven RCBOE schools, including A.R. Johnson, Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School, Lucy Craft Laney High School, Jamestown Elementary School, C.T. Walker Magnet School, Lake Forest Hills Elementary School, & Glenn Hills Middle School.
Designs must cover the sidewalk area directly above the storm drain and may extend to the street-facing mouth of raised drains. The mural size varies from school to school, but will generally cover 200-400 square feet. Materials and Support Provided: Artists will be supplied with 5 brushes, a gallon of water, small cups, and paint in the three primary colors, black and white. The paint provided will be specifically formulated to accommodate foot traffic in an outdoor setting, and may not be substituted with lesser quality paint by the artist. Artists will additionally be working in tandem with the arts teacher and principal at each school and will have access to school facilities for clean-up while working.
Eligibility/Selection Criteria:The Storm Drain Mural Project is open to all local, adult artists. Artists who enjoy working with children and who can pass the RCBOE background check and complete the Mandatory Reporter certification process are encouraged to apply.
Selection Process: All applications will be reviewed by the Public Art Advisory Panel with ad hoc participation by members of RCBOE staff. Selected artists will be provisionally invited to the project, but must pass all security checks with RCBOE. There will be a list of back-up artists who may be invited, should the originally selected artist prove unable to complete the required child safety measures.
*RCBOE panel members reserve the right to conduct background checks and reject any applications they deem to be from persons not eligible to work with children in the school.
Cash Stipend for each artist:$1,000 each. There is an additional $50 stipend available for any speaking engagements with the schools.
Eligibility: Artists who reside in Augusta’s River Region including Georgia counties of Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington and Wilkes, as well as the western South Carolina counties of Aiken, Edgefield, Allendale, Barnwell and McCormick.
Number of artists to be hired: Up to 7, depending on school’s needs
Artist responsibilities: Work with students and teachers at RCBOE schools to create sidewalk murals
Deadline to apply: Jan 3, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.
Selected artists announced:January 17, 2025
Begin working with schools: as soon as all background checks are completed with RCBOE – after February 14, 2025
Installation (painting the storm drains)Completed by May 9, 2025
How to Apply: Submit to the form below a letter of interest, a short bio, artist cv/resume, images of previous work, and any preference on school from the list of participating schools below. Be sure to communicate any previous experience you have working with children, what age groups, as well as any experience you have with painting murals. Please include any specific ADA accommodations you would need to perform the responsibilities associated with this commission.
Contact Gallery & Public Art Director Heather Dunaway at the Arts Council at 706-826-4702 or email [email protected] with any questions you might have.
This project is supported through City of Augusta Engineering Storm Water Services Program funds.
APPLY HERE: https://augustaarts.info/Storm-Drain-App-2025