Presented by: St. Cloud Downtown Alliance
Budget/Award: $5,100 (Inclusive of artist fees, design, and materials)
Submission Deadline: July 10, 2026
Project Overview
The St. Cloud Downtown Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is seeking proposals from qualified visual artists or artist teams to design and install a large-scale, permanent outdoor mural in Downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota during the summer of 2026.
Funded through a generous grant from the Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF), this project serves as the next phase of our "Alley of Art" initiative. This strategic beautification project reclaims underutilized pedestrian corridors and transforms them into immersive, publicly accessible galleries that enhance community safety, drive foot traffic, and foster local pride.
Artistic Theme & Vision
The mural will be installed on a blank brick or masonry canvas in a high-traffic pedestrian alleyway within the downtown business district. There are currently murals in this alley and it is the intention to fill the entire alleyway as a long-range project vision.
The artwork must feature historical ties to the Central Minnesota region, while remaining open, forward-looking, and inclusive of St. Cloud’s diverse future but can be very open for creative design.
Goal: To turn a functional "back-of-house" pass-through space into a vibrant landmark that encourages "stationary time" and serves as a backdrop for community stories.
Medium: High-quality, weather-resistant permanent visual art. Artwork must be able to withstand the Minnesota elements.
Collaboration & Community Input
The St. Cloud Downtown Alliance believes in creative placemaking through collaboration. The selected artist will participate in a structured design process working closely with:
- The Downtown Alliance Beautification Committee (ensuring diverse community voices are represented).
- The chosen building/property owner.
- Input for the design concepts on August 14 at the Art Crawl.
Project Timeline (2026)
Artists applying must be able to commit to the following timeline:
Week of July 13: Artist Selection Announcement
July 20 – August 15: Collaborative Art Design & Revision Process
August – September: Mural Installation & Execution (with a buffer into early October)
October 9 Downtown Art Crawl: Artist Meet & Greet and Public Unveil
Budget: $5,100
The total project award is $5,100. This stipend is all-inclusive and must cover:
- Artist design and execution fees.
- All necessary supplies, paints, primers, protective anti-graffiti coatings, and equipment (unless building-owner site prep/lift accommodations are explicitly provided).
- Travel and insurance.
Eligibility
This call is open to all regional visual artists and artist teams with demonstrated experience in executing large-scale outdoor murals, working on brick/masonry surfaces, and managing public art budgets. Artists reflecting the diverse culture of the tri-county area are highly encouraged to apply.
Submission Requirements
Interested artists must submit the following materials for review by the selection committee: