JOIN THE MOVEMENT
DONATE TODAY
The Murals of Mitchell County kicked off thanks to a grant award from our local Solomon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF). SVCF generously provided $1,000 per city in Mitchell County as a way to kick off our fundraising efforts. As each community identifies available walls and raises funds, murals will begin to appear!
You can designate your donation to a specific town, or add it to the general pot which will be used to fill gaps in funding around the county.
ADVOCATE DONOR $1,000+
Advocate donors will receive their personal or business name on one mural plaque per $1,000 donation. Designate your donation to specific town, or add it to the general pot to help fill gaps in funding around the county!
THIS IS COOL, KEEP ME IN THE LOOP!
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
I OWN A BUILDING
So you own a building and you're interested in murals? Great, you're in the right place! Your first step is to fill out our Building Interest Form. This form asks for your contact information, as well as a picture of the wall on which you are interested in having a mural. Online entries will be put into a "que" in order of submittals. This list will be utilized to choose the next mural location every time one is completed within a community pending funding availability.
Keep in mind that some surfaces are simply not favorable for murals, like exposed limestone. Additionally, some surfaces may need work prior to a mural being pained, such as paint scraping or gutter installation. The primary cause of issues with murals is water damage. If a building owner wants to have a mural pained on their building but a wall needs to be prepped prior to painting (i.e. tuck-pointing, painting, gutter improvements), the cost of improvements falls onto the building owner; however, no other investment is required from the building owner.
I AM AN ARTIST
Whether you are a seasoned muralist or art hobbyist, we would love to have you involved in the Murals of Mitchell County movement. We have formed a committee of artists to help generate ideas and designs to show building owners. If you are interested and confident in your ability to paint a mural, Greg Holdren, a local muralist in Beloit, is willing to provide assistance and training. Fill out the Artist Interest Form with your name, contact information and we will be in contact!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO IS FUNDING THE MURALS?
SVCF has generously provided $1,000 per city in Mitchell County as a way to kick off our fundraising efforts. We are counting on public support from our county residents, businesses, and alumni to make up the rest.
Donations to the Murals of Mitchell County can be made to Mitchell County Strong either through the online portal or by sending a check. Donors will have the option to support murals within a specific city or the overall movement. Donations made to the county at large will be used to fill gaps in funding in each community if necessary.
Donations can be made for any amount. Advocate donors are those who contribute $1,000 or more. These donors will receive their personal or business name on one mural plaque per $1,000 donation. Designate your donation to a specific town, or add it to the general pot to help fill gaps in funding around the county!
WHO IS PAINTING & HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Mitchell County is fortunate to have an abundance of local artistic talent. These artists are eager and excited to be a part of this project. With the recent addition of Greg Holdren, a professional muralist from Nebraska, to our community in Beloit, Mitchell County finally has the appropriate expertise, experience, and knowledge to take on this mural initiative. Greg was an art teacher for nearly 40 years and is willing and excited to teach our local artists the best practices of painting murals.
Of course, outside artists would also be welcome! The building owner will ultimately choose if local artists or outside muralists will be hired. Size and mural content may also require hiring a professional muralist from outside Mitchell County.
The cost of murals varies depending on the size and the artist. Generally, a mural will start at $5,000 with the cost increasing with size. Our initial goal is to raise $4,000 locally in each community to be paired with the $1,000 grant award from SVCF.
WHAT IS THE LONGEVITY OF MURALS?
There is a common misconception about the longevity of murals. Many people think the vibrancy and crispness of murals begin to fade after just a couple of years; however, with the appropriate surface and supplies, murals can last as long as 20 years! As part of the Murals of Mitchell County, we will ensure artists are utilizing the appropriate paint and the proper surface preparation occurs in order to encourage long-lasting works of art.
Mitchell County is fortunate to have a professional muralist living in Beloit who is willing to train talented, interested local artists on the best practices of mural painting. Additionally, depending on the preference of the building owner, professional muralists from outside Mitchell County may also be hired.
HOW IS CONTENT DETERMINED?
Sometimes the idea of murals can be intimidating. People immediately worry about content, process, funding, and more. Murals of Mitchell County is a county-wide initiative started in an effort to keep this mural movement very professional, structured, and comprehensive. Murals of Mitchell County will be overseen by a committee of Mitchell County residents. While every City may not have a direct representative on the committee, every community will have at least local champions who will help identify locations and touch base with building owners.
Ultimately, content and artist choice rests with the building owner but will be vetted by the mural committee members to ensure appropriateness.
If you are interested in getting involved in the marketing & fundraising for Murals of Mitchell County, we are currently working to fill two vacancies on our committee. We are also working on identifying local champions in each community to help us spread the word and identify potential locations.