2022 Keith County Mural Project

Keith County Area Development is excited to announce the development of a project to bring artists and local businesses together to create a more vibrant community. Art in public places plays an important role in preserving our culture, conveying the history of our community, and beautifying our community. The 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, wayfinding signage, and add murals. The 2022 Mural Project will be the first mural directly resulting from these efforts. It is being pursued thanks to generous funding raised during the 2021 Keith County Big Give and a grant from the Keith County Foundation Fund.

Project information is available below. The Guidelines & Process section contains the full, downloadable information packet. 

The application period ended June 6, 2022. We look forward to unveiling a new mural this year!

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
  • April 2022: Property owner and mural site secured. Mural Project Property Information completed. 
  • May 2022: Call for Artists Opens (First Monday of May). 
  • June 2022: Call for Artists Closes (First Monday of June); Artist Applications due June 6, 2022. 
  • June 2022: Applications reviewed by the Committee (individually, then as a group).
  • Mid-June 2022: Finalists selected, notified, and invited to submit final concepts. 
  • July 2022: Finalists submit final concepts and complete finalist interviews.
  • Mid-July 2022: 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 KC Fair weekend (July) Ogallala Indian Summer Rendezvous (September), Sounds on the Square (summer), Festival of Lights (Dec.), etc. 
Property Info
The mural will be located in downtown Ogallala in the alleyway between Cal’s Boot & Shoe Service and Sketch and Stitch on the north side of 109 North Spruce Street. 

This alleyway connects North Spruce Street, our main downtown retail corridor, to Rendezvous Square, which is an open-air venue that hosts musical and community events.  The alleyway has been closed to vehicular traffic and is approximately 14 feet wide. The side of the building is 106 feet long and approximately 16 feet tall.

The artist may choose to apply a mural to a portion of or to the entirety of the north-facing wall, with consideration to existing features and fixtures, such as a doorway and utilities. 

A related First Impressions “Green Spaces” project will add benches, planter boxes, lighting, and waste receptacles to create an inviting pocket park in this alleyway. The mural should complement the planned pocket park. 

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
Mural Wanted: Not Your Ordinary Town
First Impression Mural Project survey results supported the word ‘community’ as the top-rated value of respondents.  Other values that rose to the top of the survey as being very important to respondents were creativity, fun, nature, beauty, diversity, and vibrancy. 
​
Some of the comments given were:
  • A safe place where people work together and help each other
  • This is not a sleepy little town.
  • Our community is eclectic, supportive, and optimistic.
  • As a community we take pride in our small town, and we are progressive. 
  • There are opportunities for new businesses.
  • Ogallala is restful with its rural feel yet offers good restaurants and first-class entertainment.
  • There is a feeling of belonging.
  • The community gets behind projects and upgrades.

Drawing from these values, the 2022 mural inspiration is “Mural Wanted: Not Your Ordinary Town”.  This theme should be incorporated into the design of the mural, but the artist has creative freedom on how they interpret the theme. 

See Guidelines & Process for more information, including factual information about Ogallala 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 (June 6, 2022).
    • 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 $16,000 has been identified for the purposes of this project.  Travel costs, materials (including scaffolding/lifts), 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 June 6 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 June 6, 2022.
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