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Date: 9/20/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Domenic Sarno and Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan announced that the city selected two request for proposals (RFP) applicants for public mural events. The selected organizations include Common Wealth Mural Collective and City Mosaic Inc.
For Common Wealth Mural Collective, the $80,000 in grant funding goes toward the organization’s Fresh Paint festivities that took place in September. Part of the funding will also go toward a spring 2023 event that will incorporate light projections, according to the city’s press release.
With the organization’s variety of art events, Common Wealth Mural Collective will install 18 murals throughout Springfield over the next year. The organization will welcome community members to participate via paint party events and additionally offers an educational program on mural painting called the Community Mural Institute.
Common Wealth Murals Director Britt Ruhe shared that the organization’s efforts help make murals more affordable proposition by involving community members. A single mural can range anywhere from $15,000 to $80,000.
“People love murals, but they can be really expensive. One of the ways to make murals more affordable for a city is to do a mural festival,” said Ruhe.
For this year’s Fresh Paint event, Ruhe shared that organization recreated two historic murals by local artist Nelson Stevens. Stevens was a member of the AfriCOBRA art alliance that directed the creation of over 30 murals in Springfield. Ruhe stressed that these project articulate a sense of place in Springfield.
“If you look at them and the ones that are going up this year, you’ll really see that they are reflecting Springfield as a whole and the specific neighborhoods that they are in,” said Ruhe.
City Mosaic received $20,000 from its RFP application. The funds will go toward the completion of a mural project on Mattoon Street that will be prominently featured in the city’s downtown area. As part of the grant agreement, both organizations must secure necessary approvals and complete their projects by June 2023.
The City Mosaic mural is set for installation at 85-97 Chestnut St. The organization will collaborate with Springfield Museums on a mural that will include Dr. Seuss imagery alongside historical characters and inventions from Springfield.
The $100,000 in funding is being provided through city of Springfield Community Development Block Grant funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to the city’s press release.
Reflecting on the grant announcements, Sarno stressed the importance of growing the city’s art scene.
“Art is so important to the vitality and vibrancy of our city that spins off with the patronizing of our local businesses - we can’t wait to see the creative results,” said Sarno.
Sheehan also expressed enthusiasm for the grant awardees.
“These are both projects that will substantially add to the visual streetscape of the city and add to what is becoming a pretty impressive collection of public art in Springfield,” said Sheehan.