Organizer Information
City of Normandy Park is a municipal government located in the state of Washington, United States, committed to supporting public life, environmental stewardship, and community-centered cultural initiatives. Through its parks, recreation, and civic engagement programs, the city actively invests in projects that improve public spaces and encourage local participation in arts and culture.
One of the city’s most beloved public destinations is Marvista Park, a highly frequented community park known for its recreational and environmental amenities. The park includes walking trails, a playground, community gardens, pollinator and rose gardens, picnic facilities, outdoor restrooms, and gathering spaces used regularly by residents and visitors alike. As part of its commitment to enhancing the public experience through art, the City of Normandy Park has launched a new mural commission opportunity intended to revitalize the park’s restroom building with a fresh and engaging public artwork.
This initiative reflects the city’s interest in integrating accessible visual art into public environments while celebrating the identity, ecology, and history of the local community. The selected mural will become a long-term public artwork designed to enrich the park atmosphere and create a visually meaningful experience for visitors of all ages.
Title & Description
Mural for Marvista Park – Call for Artists
The City of Normandy Park is inviting artists and artist teams based in Washington State to apply for a public art commission involving the design and creation of a large-scale outdoor mural at Marvista Park in Normandy Park, Washington.
This opportunity focuses on the transformation of the park’s restroom building through a visually compelling mural that reflects the spirit of the community and the surrounding natural landscape. More than a decade ago, the structure received its first mural intervention; however, the artwork has faded over time and has been impacted by tagging and weather exposure. The city is now seeking a refreshed artistic vision that will create a welcoming, durable, and community-oriented public artwork.
Artists are encouraged to propose concepts inspired by Normandy Park’s visual history, environmental identity, tree canopy, proximity to Puget Sound, and local cultural heritage. The selected mural should maintain a timeless and approachable aesthetic while remaining suitable for a public recreational environment visited by children, families, and residents throughout the year.
The commissioned artist or artist team will be responsible for the entire project process, including concept development, preparation of the mural surface, painting, installation, and protective finishing treatments. The project emphasizes durability, public accessibility, and environmental harmony, with a preference for minimalist compositions using earth tones and neutral colors.
This commission offers artists an opportunity to contribute a lasting public artwork to an active civic space while engaging directly with community-based placemaking through contemporary mural practice.
Categories
- Public Art
- Mural Art
- Visual Art
- Street Art
- Community Art
- Painting
- Large-Scale Installation
- Outdoor Art
- Environmental Art
- Civic Art Projects
Eligibility
- Open to individual artists or artist teams
- Applicants must reside in Washington State, USA
- Artists should demonstrate previous experience with murals or large-scale painting projects
- Emerging and established mural artists are welcome to apply
- Collaborative artist teams may submit proposals
- Applicants must be capable of completing an outdoor public artwork project independently
- Selected artists must obtain a City of Normandy Park business license before beginning the project
There are no age restrictions specified in the call.
Program Benefits & Awards
- A total project budget of $7,000 USD
- Opportunity to create a permanent public artwork in a well-visited community park
- Public visibility through a city-supported civic art initiative
- Professional portfolio enhancement through a municipal mural commission
- Experience collaborating with a public institution and the local community
- Opportunity to contribute to placemaking and public engagement through art
- Exposure to audiences visiting Marvista Park throughout the year
The project budget is all-inclusive and is intended to cover:
- Design development
- Painting and mural execution
- Surface priming and anti-graffiti coating
- Site preparation and power washing
- Equipment and supply rentals
- Travel costs
- Insurance
- Permits and taxes
- Materials and protective finishes
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Letter of Interest
- Professional résumé or CV
- Cover letter
- Three or more images of previous work
- Professional references
- Samples demonstrating mural or large-scale painting experience
Artists are encouraged to provide work samples that clearly demonstrate their ability to execute durable and visually engaging public artworks.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 22 May 2026
- Artist Selection Notification: 28 May 2026
- Design Development Phase: June 2026
- Installation Period: July – August 2026
Location
Normandy Park, WA, United States
Additional Details
The mural must cover all exterior walls of the restroom building at Marvista Park. Approximate wall dimensions include:
- Front and rear walls: 17 ft (W) × 9 ft (H)
- Side walls: 9.5 ft (W) × 7 ft (H)
Artists are encouraged to develop proposals that balance originality with accessibility and long-term visual sustainability. The city has expressed a preference for:
- Minimalist and timeless aesthetics
- A maximum of six solid colors
- Earth-tone and neutral color palettes
- Durable outdoor-grade materials suitable for long-term exposure
- Artwork appropriate for all audiences in a public park setting
Applications will be reviewed by representatives from the City of Normandy Park. Finalists may be invited to participate in interviews as part of the selection process. Evaluation criteria include originality, artistic quality, technical skill, visual impact, and appropriateness for the scale and context of the mural site.
All selected artists must comply with applicable legal, contractual, and municipal requirements established by the City of Normandy Park.