Call Description

The Small Mural Mentor Program will pair an experienced mural artist with four adult mentees from the Antelope Valley area to collaboratively design and install a mural at Pelona Vista Park. The park spans 30 acres and features ten lighted soccer fields, a fitness court, and a one-mile walking path. It serves as a vibrant hub for youth and adult soccer leagues and community recreation. This call for entry seeks four adult mentees, prioritizing emerging artists with limited or no mural experience. The mentorship includes up to six workshops led by the artist mentor at a City-selected location, plus hands-on guidance during installation. This initiative supports a key goal of Palmdale’s Public Art Master Plan: to attract and retain artists by offering meaningful support and opportunities for emerging, mid-career, and established local talent.

The collaborative mural will be installed on a concrete wall located at the south fields. The full wall measures 187 feet 10 inches wide and 60 inches high, with tapered ends. Prior to installation, the City will prepare the surface by pressure washing, priming, and painting the wall. Once the mural is complete, an anti-graffiti coating will be applied. Artists are responsible for providing their own safety gear to ensure safe project completion. 

Survey results showed strong community support for murals in Palmdale, with residents highlighting their potential to enhance neighborhood character. Participants expressed interest in themes of soccer, athleticism, and messages of hope and peace, along with imagery inspired by the city’s desert landscapes and scenic views.

This call for entry seeks to select four adult mentees for the project, with a particular emphasis on emerging artists who have limited or no prior experience in mural installation. Applications are open to residents of the Antelope Valley, and adult novice artists are strongly encouraged to apply.

Each selected mentee will receive an all-inclusive budget of $2,500 upon successful completion of the mentorship workshops and collaborative mural installation. Payments will be issued upon completion of defined project milestones.

The City-assigned mentor will lead up to six workshops at a location selected and operated by the City. Paint and related supplies will be provided by the City, based on the mentor’s requests.

Selected mentees must provide proof of insurance and obtain a current City of Palmdale business license prior to beginning the project, as required by the Palmdale Municipal Code and outlined in the agreement.

LINK FOR CITY OF PALMDALE BUSINESS LICENSE

The workshops will culminate in collaborative, to-scale color sketches or digital renderings of the proposed artwork, created by the four mentee artists with guidance from the mentor. Proposals should reflect the project objectives, including theme and context within the project site, and should be respectful of the greater context of the community. Proposed artwork must be family-friendly and cannot depict sexual conduct or sexually explicit nudity nor advertise any activity illegal under the laws of California or the United States. 

An Artist Selection Panel will review artist submittals, and the Public Art Commission will provide final approval. The Panel will select applicants that best meet the City’s objectives for this project. The Public Art Commission reserves the right to contact artists prior to final selection for clarification or expansion of their proposal.

Important Dates:

November 16, 2025:             Applications due

November 25, 2025:             Review completed by Artist Selection Committee

December 10, 2025:             Artists contacted

January 27, 2026:                Public Art Commission meeting

March - April, 2026:              Workshops

April 30, 2026                       Collaborative concept design due from mentees

May 26, 2026                        Public Art Commission meeting

June 13, 2026:                     Mural installation may begin

June 30 2026:                      Mural to be completed by this date

The City of Palmdale is located in northern Los Angeles County and lies in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California.  The City is a High Desert community sprinkled with Joshua Trees and featuring quick access to state parks and monumental desert landscapes. The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the Los Angeles basin to the south, providing relatively quick access to the cosmopolitan amenities of Greater Los Angeles.  These characteristics and more make Palmdale an ideal place to live, work, and play, with endless possibilities to enjoy the outdoors while hiking, biking, and running.

The climate in Palmdale is very hot and dry in the summer, and chilly to cold in winter, with snowfall possible.

ARTIST RESOURCES / PALMDALE COMMUNITY:

Links regarding the community and history of the Palmdale area:

·         City of Palmdale

·         Palmdale Public Art

·         Visit Palmdale

·         Discover Palmdale

·         Local History

Application Requirements

A complete application includes the following:

·         Artist’s resume

·         10 – 20 examples of artist’s previous work

·         3 professional references

·         Statement of interest about the project

Eligibility Criteria

The Panel will review and score submissions based on the following criteria:

·         Artists 18 years of age or older are invited to submit an individual artist application.

·         Artist must reside in the Antelope Valley area.

·         Encourage the highest level of creative engagement.

·         Select an artist whose past efforts have maintained a high level of quality.

·         Further the mission and goals of the Public Art Program and the City.

·         Identify the optimal approach that is suitable to the demands of the project.

·         Select an artist who will best respond to the distinctive characteristics of the site and the community it serves.

·         Select an artist who can work successfully as a member of an overall project team.