30 Sep OPEN CALL FOR CSRA BASED MURALISTS – Choice Neighborhoods Allen Homes Mural Project
Choice Neighborhoods Allen Homes Mural Project
Thank you for your interest in the mural project for the Choice Neighborhoods – Allen Homes Mural Project
The Choice Neighborhood Project in Augusta, Georgia, focuses on revitalizing the Allen Homes community and surrounding Harrisburg and Laney Walker neighborhoods, which were identified as distressed public housing. The project, led by the City of Augusta and the Augusta Housing Authority, received a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant to develop a comprehensive plan for transforming the area into a vibrant, mixed-income neighborhood with new housing and supportive services for residents. A portion of this grant had been dedicated to visual arts in the form of two mobile murals on MDF board to be installed at two prime locations in the Allen Homes neighborhood. One near the basketball court, one near the new community garden.
Background: Allen Homes in Augusta, GA, is a public housing development built in 1961 and owned by the Augusta Housing Authority. It currently consists of 150 homes on 16.84 acres. The community is part of the Laney Walker – Bethlehem – Harrisburg historic districts. The Laney-Walker/Bethlehem/Harrisburg neighborhoods in Augusta, GA, began as a working-class, multi-ethnic community in the 19th century and evolved into a historically significant center for Augusta’s Black population by the early 20th century. It became known for its unique Black-owned businesses, schools, and churches, and continues to be an area of focus for revitalization efforts that aim to preserve its rich cultural heritage. You can find more information on these historic districts by visiting the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History or online at https://lucycraftlaneymuseum.com/ .
Why MDF Board Murals? MDF (medium density fiberboard) is a wood-based panel made from fine wood fibers, resin, and wax, pressed together under heat and pressure to form a dense, uniform sheet. Once sealed, this board is a great surface for mural installation that requires a bit of mobility. Allen Homes is set for relocation within the next 5 years. The City would like to take these murals to the new property to continue to add vibrancy and provide consistency for residents. MDF is used across downtown Augusta for mobile-style murals that are used to beautify spaces and bring color to an otherwise drab building.
Select artists will be provided with three 4’x6′ MDF panels. Murals will be 12′ x 6′ across 3 boards. These can be painted and sealed separately. Artists should make arrangements for transport of their MDF either in a truck or a rented vehicle. Artists should plan to have ample studio space to fit the MDF to complete their murals.
Mural Locations 526 Hines St, Augusta, GA 30901
First Mural Theme (near basketball court): Kid/Family Friendly mural in a Cartoon style with themes of Love, Heart, and Family . GPS Coordinates of 33.4597623, -819694890)
wall size: 15 feet 3 inches wide by 6 feet 11 inches tall – mural will be 12′ wide x 6′ tall on MDF installed via screws into the mortar of the brick wall.
Second Mural Theme (near new community garden): Inspirational Mural (with quote “Joy Grows Here”), in a realistic style with themes of Peace, Hope and Joy. GPS Coordinates of 33.4599757, -81.9678170
size: 15 feet 3 inches Wide, 7 feet 10 inches tall. mural will be 12′ wide x 6′ tall on MDF installed via screws into the mortar of the brick wall.
*Both themes selected via surveys of current Allen Homes Residents*
Artists interested in submitting proposals for both murals will need to complete two separate forms.
Eligibility/Criteria: Muralists must reside in Augusta’s River Region / the CSRA. The CSRA (Central Savannah River Area) includes 13 counties in Georgia and 5 in South Carolina, totaling 18 counties. Georgia counties are Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes. South Carolina counties include Aiken, Edgefield, Allendale, Barnwell, and McCormick.
Selection Process: All applications will be reviewed and scored by a panel of jurors through the Public Art Advisory Panel, Allen Homes Staff, City of Augusta Staff, and Select members of the Laney Walker/Bethlehem/Harrisburg community.
Muralists will be ranked based on:
1. Resume & Artist CV
2. Proposal & Sketch, with a focus on the provided themes.
3. Budget breakdown
4. Supporting materials of past projects.
Stipend for each artist: $7,500.00 . MDF Board and paints will be supplied to each artist. The selected artist will be required to purchase/bring their own brushes, rollers, paint pans, tarps, rinse buckets, lifts, and/or scaffolding, etc. Artists should plan to work on the provided MDF panels in their own studio space. If artists do not have the space, please reach out to the Arts Council for studio opportunities (these might incur a rental fee). Payments will be made in 3rds, with the first being upon contract signage, the second being when the mural has reached its halfway mark, and the final payment upon completion/installation.
Deadline to apply: Sunday, November 2, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.
Selected artists announced: November 17, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.
Deadline for Mural Completion: March 31, 2026.
Requirements: Artists will be required to work closely with city officials, Allen Homes Staff, and the Greater Augusta Arts Council. Artists must be 18 years of age or older, agree to sign a contract and provide a W9. Artists must be able to provide insurance that covers all parties involved.
*Any delays in completion/installation, outside of extreme weather events or serious injury or illness, will result in loss of funds. Any muralist or muralist team not up to the task of completing this mural within a 3 month period should not apply.*
How to Apply: Submit to the form below a letter of interest, a short bio, artist cv/resume, images of previous work, budget breakdown, along with a proposal and sketch.
Contact Gallery & Public Art Director Heather Dunaway at the Arts Council at 706-826-4702 or email heather@augustaarts.com with any questions you might have.
Contact Gallery & Public Art Director Heather Dunaway at the Arts Council at 706-826-4702 or email heather@augustaarts.com with any questions you might have.
Need a scaled template? Use the one provided below!
Download PDF here: mural template.
*the white is the MDF boards, the dotted lines show the size of each board. Murals will NOT be painted on the brick.*