Leesburg Arts Commission Seeks Artist for Mural

Artists who want to leave their mark on Leesburg may want to submit a proposal to the Leesburg Commission on Public Art to create a mural on the Loudoun Street face of the Town Hall Parking Garage. The deadline for proposals is July 11.

“I am eager to see the mural project completed,” said Leesburg Council Member Kelly Burk.  “As the first major public art installation in Leesburg, the parking garage mural will open the door for more art in the community.”

The idea for the mural is to create a focal point downtown that reflects the history, growth, change, diversity and character of Leesburg.

Town funds will not be spent on the mural. The Friends of Leesburg Public Arts, a nonprofit organization, is raising money for the project with a goal of $50,000.

“It’s no secret that the arts build community,” said Pamela Butler, president of the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts. “A downtown mural has been a longtime vision for many arts and community leaders.”

Butler said the Friends group was anxious to move forward and would be visible at various events raising funds.

“Once a design is selected and approved by the Council, we will formally launch our fundraising campaign with a series of artist receptions and a fundraising booth at the Leesburg Fine Art Festival in September,” she said. “In addition, we will be seeking grant funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and other arts funding organizations.”

For more information about the Leesburg Fine Art Festival, go to www.paragonartevents.com/lee/ or the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts’ Facebook, www.facebook.com/LeesburgArts.

For more information about the Parking Garage Mural RFP, visit www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard. Artists are asked to submit letters of interest, examples of previous public artwork and anticipated budgets. 

A previous RFP earlier this year did not produce a candidate, and the commission recommended that the Town Council reissue an RFP with more guidance to artists.

Once the submissions are received, an evaluation team will pick up to three semifinalists, who will be asked to prepare a detailed design of the proposed mural. The town will pay a stipend for that work. 

The Commission on Public Art expects to pick the artist for the project and make a recommendation to the council in September.