Occoquan announces Public Mural Contest!

In 2025, the Town of Occoquan was please to receive a Community Vitality Grand from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to improve an underused area in historic downtown as a new public space with community-based public art.

As part of the grant, a mural will be added to the old pump house building at 172 Mill Street, adding community created public art to this newly established pocket park. The mural artist selected will receive a commission of $6,000 and up to $2,000 to cover their materials.

The deadline for artists and jurors to apply is March 6, 2026 at 8pm ET. Learn more at https://occoquanva.gov/public-art!

Call for Art

Mural Guidelines:

• Must be original artwork of the person(s) named on the entry form

• When possible, encourage public engagement

• No political, social, or religious statements or influences

• When possible, represent a pro-Occoquan message

• Happy, uplifting, inspiring and colorful in nature

• No advertisements, logos or copyrighted images

• Universal appeal – accepted and loved

• Follow the spirit of the Town’s Architectural Review Board guidelines, found at: occoquanva.gov/architectural-review-board/

  • Neon, fluorescent, or reflective type colors are discouraged

• Keep the piece relevant to the Town of Occoquan’s values, culture and people

  • Some theme ideas: natural beauty of the river, trails, & wildlife; Occoquan’s history

Artist Guidelines:

• Artist must have the capacity to paint/install the designs for themselves

• Artist must have the experience in this process or understand the right steps of scaling a small drawing to the mural space

• Artist must reside, work, or study in Virginia, Maryland, or the District of Columbia

• Artist must have the ability to work in the United States

Evaluation Criteria: 

In deciding on the winner of the contest, the Town will use the below criteria:

• The aesthetic beauty of the mural design

• Use of color and light

• Utilization of Space

• The proposed design’s fidelity to the mural guidelines

• The qualifications and experience of the applicant

• The estimated cost for the install of the mural 

Call for Jurors

The Town of Occoquan is asking community members to help select the new mural, by being part of the initial juror panel.

• Jurors must be one of the following: resident, business owner, or member of a Town Board or Commission

• Jurors must submit an application explaining their relationship to town and view of public art

• Jurors must be available to vote between March 9^th –March 13^th

The deadline for artists and jurors to apply is March 6, 2026 at 8pm ET. Learn more at https://occoquanva.gov/public-art!