2023 Mural Project

Art in public places plays an important role in preserving our culture, conveying the history of our community, and beautifying our community. Keith County Area Development is excited to announce the launch of the 2023 Mural Project in the community of Brule, Nebraska. The main goal of the Mural Project is to support the creation of murals throughout Keith County to promote the creative expression of the artist and to provide an enriching visual experience for residents and visitors as a quality of place enhancement. 

This project stems from the priorities identified during the 2020 Keith County Community Vision Planning process, through which three top community priorities were identified: Housing Development, Early Childhood Development, and First Impressions (or “Curb Appeal”). Within the First Impressions category, efforts are underway across Keith County to improve green spaces, cohesive branding and wayfinding, and to add murals. 

The 2023 Mural Project will be the second mural resulting from these efforts. It is being pursued thanks to generous funding raised during the 2022 Keith County Big Give and a grant from the Keith County Foundation Fund.

 The Guidelines & Process section contains the full, downloadable information packet. 

Project Information

who is involved
Keith County Area Development (KCAD) is administering the Mural Project, with support from the First Impressions Committee. The Committee includes community members and interested volunteers. KCAD is governed by a Board of Directors. 

Property Owners provide the wall for mural installation.

​Artists provide the original work installed on the provided walls.
Timeline
  • October 2022: First Impressions Mural Committee randomly selected the community to receive the next mural. Brule was chosen. 
  • November 2022: Issued a survey to residents of Brule and the Mural Committee to select the mural property location.
  • January 2023: The Village of Brule Board approved the use of the Barton Park public restroom building.  Mural site secured.
  • February 2023: Creative Brief approved by the Village of Brule Board.
  • March 2023: Call for Artists opens.
  • April 2023: Call for Artists Closes; Artist Applications due April 21, 2023.
  • May 2023: Applications reviewed by the Committee (individually, then as a group).
  • Mid-May 2023: Finalists selected by the Committee, notified, and invited to submit final concepts. Present top picks with the Village of Brule Board for approval.
  • June 2023: Finalists submit final concepts and complete finalist interviews.
  • Mid-June 2023: Artist announced. Planning meeting with the Committee scheduled.
  • Installation completed by Artist within 120 days.
  • Project competition celebration to be scheduled in conjunction with an existing Keith County community event, such as Brule Day (August), etc.
Property Info
The mural will be located on the exterior walls of the Barton Park public restroom building. Barton Park is located at 401 West 5th St in Brule- in-between State and Oak Streets and 5th and 6th Streets.  The park covers a whole city block.  The public restroom building is located on the South end of the beautiful, tree filled park.
 
There will be construction on the building this Spring/Summer to remove the current privacy walls so they are ADA handicapped accessible. The public restroom building exterior is 25 feet wide on the North and South walls, 11 feet wide (with the removal of the privacy walls) on the East and West walls and 8’9 feet (peaks) and 8’3 feet tall- approximately 650 square feet. The artist may choose to apply a mural to a portion of the building or to its entirety with consideration to existing features and fixtures, such as doorways and utilities.

See Guidelines and Process for more details and photos of the site.
ARtist Info
  • Applicants without professional mural experience may apply, but it is recommended to partner with a professional muralist.
  • Applicants must provide a budget for the project, and if the project is approved, funding must be in place before work can begin.
  • Proposed Murals will be reviewed and approved by the Committee and the Property Owner.
  • Murals should be proposed for the site predetermined by the Committee and designated in this packet. 
  • The Artist retains all copyrights to the art and intellectual property used in this project.
  • All Murals approved through this process will become the property of KCAD as long as the Mural Installation and Maintenance Agreement is in effect.
  • It will be the Artist’s responsibility to make any repairs to the installation site as deemed necessary by the artist.
    • Making arrangements for such repairs is the responsibility of the artist.
    • Costs related to the repairs, if necessary, should be included in your project budget proposal.
  • To the extent practicable, Murals shall be applied only to the flat planes of walls.
  • Final applicants will be interviewed either in person or via video conference prior to project approval.
  • Artists must provide proof of liability insurance prior to beginning installation.
  • Artists should provide a final copyright and usage rights agreement prior to the start of the installation.
  • Artists must sign a Mural Installation and Maintenance Agreement if their design is selected. ​
See Guidelines and Process for more details. 

Process

Creative Brief
Beauty, Creativity, Nature
First Impression Mural Project survey results supported the words ‘beauty, creativity, and nature’ as the top-rated values of respondents.  Other values that rose to the top of the survey as being very important to respondents were vibrancy, kindness, grace, unselfishness, authenticity, rustic, and history. 
​
Some of the comments given were:
  • A place to relax.
  • Brule has the charm of a small town within driving distance of about anything you would want or need.
  • Up and coming. Rebirth.
  • Brule is my oasis. It is a beautiful, comfortable, community with a rich history and gorgeous surroundings.
  • The spaces are wide and the sky is brilliant, both with color in the day, and stars at night.
  • Everyone looks out for each other. Children don’t have just parents; they have a village of them.
  • Slower paced living & quiet.
  • Small town big feel. 
Drawing from these values, the 2023 mural inspiration is using the key elements “Beauty, Creativity, Nature”.  These elements should be incorporated into the mural, but the artist has creative freedom on how they interpret the elements. Artist must provide a name for the mural.   

See Guidelines & Process for more information, including factual information about Brule and Keith County for context.
Selection Criteria
The approval process for executing/installing Murals on public or private property within Keith County is administered by Keith County Area Development’s First Impressions Committee (the Committee), and the Property Owner.

​The Mural should be a professionally designed, original work of exceptional quality with consideration of the following criteria:
​
  • Work that is of enduring value.
  • Visual imagery that enhances the aesthetic appearance within Keith County and the nature and character of the site.
  • Visual imagery that is appropriate for all audiences (not reflecting partisan politics, or containing sexual or religious content, or commercial advertising).
  • Artwork that is appropriately designed for all viewpoints to the mural (by pedestrians, moving vehicles, and seated audiences) determined by the location of the Mural.
  • Suitability for the wall surface to receive all materials that are to be used to execute the Mural, including wall preparation material.
  • Work that is appropriate to the scale of the building and to the site.
  • All installation and technical issues.
Application Process
Artists Applicants (Artist) shall:
  • Complete and submit an Artist Application.
  • ​Prepare a Mural Presentation Package as described in the Artwork Submission Process section (see Guidelines & Process) and submit it by the application deadline (April, 21 2023).
    • The committee will narrow down Artist Applicants to no more than two (2) Finalists. 
    • If selected as a Finalist, the Artist Applicant shall meet with the Committee in person or via video conference interview to discuss the proposed project details, including design, budget, and timeline. 
    • If selected as a Finalist, the Artist Applicant shall prepare and submit a more finalized design (to scale) of their proposed mural on or before the deadline specified by the Committee. The Finalist(s) will be paid $250 upon completion and submission of this finalized design.
    • The committee will select one Artist Applicant from the Finalists.
  • Selected Artist must meet with the Committee in person to deliver a finalized conceptual sketch of the artwork to discuss project execution, budget, and timelines at an agreed upon time before the start of installation. 
    • This meeting will take place in Keith County, Nebraska, but specific location will be determined.
    • Travel costs for this meeting will be at the Selected Artist expense.
  • The Selected Artist will be awarded the commission, and payments will be arranged accordingly and discussed at the in-person meeting with the Committee.
  • Artist, Property Owner and KCAD representatives will sign the Mural Installation and Maintenance Agreement (see Guidelines & Process). 
  • ​Artist will complete the installation within 120 days.
Budget
Because the size/scope of the mural within the identified wall is variable, we understand that the project budget may vary widely.  A total of $10,000 has been identified for the purposes of this project.  Travel costs, materials (including ladders), and personal liability insurance should be included in the budget.  The Committee may collaborate with the artist to request needed in-kind contributions from local partners, within reason. 

​Each finalist will be paid a $250 stipend upon completion of his/her finalized design proposal.

Application

Application Requirements
Artist Applicants must submit the following items to KCAD by April 21 to be considered for this project:

** Artist Application (Available online or in the guidelines packet)
** Artist Portfolio
** Primitive draft of the concept for the Mural
** Written narrative
** Project budget
** Drafted Artist Agreement

Please see Guidelines & Process below for full details on these requirements. 
Guidelines & Process
Full details on all the project information included on this website may be downloaded here: 
2022 Mural Project Guidelines & Process
File Size: 8944 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
The selected artist, property owner and KCAD representative must sign the Mural Installation & Maintenance Agreement prior to project implementation. It is included here for your reference. 
Mural Installation & Maintenance Agreement
File Size: 101 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Submission Instructions
The Artist Application is available online or in the guidelines packet (see Guidelines & Process above).

You may email your Application and supporting materials to:

info@kcad.org
ATTN: First Impressions Committee

or send by mail to:

Keith County Area Development
ATTN: First Impressions Committee
PO Box 418
Ogallala, NE 69153

​Deadline for applications is April 21, 2023.
Questions?
​If you have questions, please contact Keith County Area Development at (308) 284-6623 or info@kcad.org.
Copyright © 2022
(308) 284-6623
10 N. Spruce St. Suite C
Ogallala, NE 69153
Photo used under Creative Commons from chimpwithcan