The Johnson County Community Foundation is now accepting entries for the Color the County Mural Program.
The summer 2025 location will be at Taxman Brewing Company, 13 S. Baldwin St., Bargersville.
JCCF officials are looking for local artists, emerging artists, art students and creative community members interested in submitting mural designs for this year’s program. No previous experience is necessary, according to a news release.
JCCF is seeking one mural design and will award $3500 for the winning design, along with mural materials and the instruction needed to prepare for an outdoor mural installation. The selected winner will be responsible for coordinating efforts with the foundation to complete the community mural in summer of 2025, including, but not limited to, mural prep work leading to the community painting day, then mural touch-ups and completion afterward, the news release says.
Here’s a look at the criteria and how to submit entries:
Design criteria
- Content: Successful designs are bright, colorful and appealing to both pedestrians and viewers in vehicles. To be classified as artwork and to avoid inadvertently violating signage ordinances, the design should not include logos, phrases or branding for any business, product, good, activity, service or private interest. Since location is public and visible to viewers of all ages, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, designs must not include nudity, suggestive poses, hate speech or imagery that any group might find obscene, offensive or morally shocking. Political, religious or memorial artwork is also unacceptable.
- Application: The selected design will be applied using exterior paint and a clear-coat graffiti block directly on the location surface.
- Format: Applicants may submit their concept as a hand-drawn design or digital file (.jpg or .pdf). The submission must show the art by itself and as a mockup on the building.
Submission details
- Deadline: No later than 4 p.m. May 28.
- Entry fee: No entry fee is required. If people wish to make a donation to JCCF’s Color the County Fund, the JCFF appreciates all contributions.
- Entrant information: Each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form available at www.jccf.org/mural-program/.
- Where to submit: Submissions can be hand-delivered, mailed or emailed. Hard copies must be hand-delivered or mailed to: Attention: Mural Design, Johnson County Community Foundation, 398 Main St. / PO. Box 217, Franklin, IN 46131. Digital copies must be sent to Joe Morris at joem@jccf.org.
Design selection
The judging panel is composed of volunteer community members and JCCF partners.
Panelists will review the entries and select the finalists based on the following considerations:
- Artistic quality and strength of concept,
- Contemporary relevance and appropriateness for our time,
- Architectural, geographical, socio-cultural and historical context,
- Originality and uniqueness, and
- Suitability to the surrounding neighborhood.