What is a mural program?
Pullman Arts Foundation’s mural program creates innovative public art projects that enrich the city while connecting businesses, community nonprofits, and artists. We will create several murals each year, including outdoor murals in the summer months and indoor murals during the colder and wetter months. A mural is essentially a painting of a work of art on a large surface. Our founders and board of directors have extensive experience with public murals in the northwest and midwest. We are now in the early stages of fundraising to create a sustainable, long-term mural program in our own community. Through Pullman Arts Foundation, we hope to utilize our experience to connect other artists with local businesses and groups and act as a catalyst for creativity and community in Pullman. Our long-term vision is to make Pullman an arts destination. We believe art and culture can be one of the reasons people to come to visit–and decide to stay–in Pullman, WA.
Have an Idea or a wall? Let’s talk!
Do you have an outdoor or indoor wall that would make a great canvas? We are actively seeking businesses, property owners, and homeowners that are interested in providing space for a community-engaged mural project. Retaining walls, brick walls, concrete walls, and wooden fences facing public sidewalks and streets all make excellent “canvases” for creative expression. We are also interested in restoring existing murals in Pullman. Do you have an existing mural that could use some “TLC?” or a blank wall that could be brought to life? Or perhaps, you or your business or nonprofit would like to sponsor a project? Please contact us and let’s make something happen!
Why do we need public art?
Public art is important. Art can revitalize communities and bring people together. Public art projects reflect our society, add meaning and uniqueness. Art can draw visitors to areas that they may not otherwise notice, promoting business and boosting the local economy. Data suggests that people find towns and cities with an active cultural scenes more attractive. Public art can help to create an identity for a city, a people or any place. Public art can create an opportunity for individuals and groups to reflect on their values and their impact on the community and the world. Public art can be loud and celebratory, or quiet and subdued. Public art can be beautiful, provocative or challenging and can mean different things to different people. Public art can spark conversations among neighbors, inspire children, prompt visitors to ask questions and explore, and generally make a place more interesting and enjoyable.
Collaboration & Communication
Due to the amount of communication and collaboration required, the process of managing a work of public art from inception to completion can sometimes be challenging. However, rather than a weakness, this is in fact the great strength of public art–public art requires building bridges, partnering up and creating coalitions. Public art connects individuals that may not otherwise have the opportunity to meet each other creating new bonds, strengthening the existing bonds within communities and amplifying voices from underrepresented groups. Many works of public art go through budgetary challenges, time management issues and even political setbacks. We are committed to overcoming these challenges through constructive critique and dialogue, and most importantly, through building coalitions of local leaders and visionaries. These coalitions may involve artists and business owners, or nonprofits or other stakeholders. We want to utilize the natural excitement and energy Pullman already possesses, and harness it for good and creativity. With collaboration and communication, we can bring together different voices and perspectives to arrive at a shared vision and enthusiasm for creative works that inspire and uplift.
