At the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC), public art is a vital expression of our mission to bring art into the lives of everyone in our community. We believe that public art serves as a powerful tool to inspire, connect, and enrich both the cultural and physical landscapes of our city. That’s why we are thrilled to announce our newest public art initiative: the “Pantone of the Cuyahoga River” mural project.
This large-scale mural will be installed on the east-facing wall of the CVAC building in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, transforming a key space along Riverfront Parkway. The mural will be visible from Route 8 and the Riverfront Boardwalk, creating a vibrant, visual gateway into the heart of our city. By celebrating the colors and textures of the Cuyahoga River, the mural will enhance our surroundings and reflect the natural beauty that flows through our community.
At CVAC, we are dedicated to fostering an appreciation of visual art through education, exhibitions, and community enrichment. This mural embodies our core values by providing an opportunity for a practicing artist to engage with the public, while also creating an accessible work of art that all community members can enjoy. Public art, speaks to the heart of our mission by bringing creativity into the everyday lives of residents and visitors alike.
The “Pantone of the Cuyahoga River” mural will stand as a symbol of community pride, connecting us to the river that has shaped our history and continues to be a vital part of our region. This project will foster local identity, encourage civic engagement, and invite the community to celebrate the artistic spirit of Cuyahoga Falls.
We invite artists or artist teams with experience in public art to submit their qualifications to be a part of this transformative project. Scroll down to learn more and visit our Call for Qualifications section for details on how you can help bring this vision to life!
BUDGET: $20,500
ELIGIBILITY: Open to artists or artist teams, with priority given to those regional to Cuyahoga Falls, OH, or residing in the state of Ohio.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2024, 11:59 pm EST
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OPPORTUNITY:
Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC) is committed to fostering an appreciation of visual art through education, exhibitions, and community enrichment. By creating accessible opportunities for artistic engagement, we strive to make art a meaningful part of everyday life. We believe that art has the power to inspire, connect, and enrich our lives. Public art, in particular, reflects our community’s values, celebrates shared experiences, and enhances the cultural landscape of Cuyahoga Falls.
In alignment with our mission and core values, CVAC seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create a dynamic mural that captures the vibrant colors and textures of the Cuyahoga River, celebrating the local environment. The “Pantone of the Cuyahoga River” project will transform the urban landscape along Riverfront Parkway in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls by enhancing the back of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center’s building. Visible from both Route 8 and the newly revitalized Riverfront Boardwalk, the mural will serve as a striking visual landmark of fine art and a focal point for the community. It is envisioned not only as a celebration of the surrounding landscape but also as a photo-worthy attraction that fosters community pride and enriches the cultural landscape of Summit County.
The “Pantone of the Cuyahoga River” project is made possible through generous funding from ArtsForward, an ArtsNow initiative, which has granted monies to bring this vision to life. This grant, combined with support from CVAC, will cover the mural’s design, materials, and installation costs, ensuring the project aligns with both artistic and community goals.
Installation is scheduled for Summer 2025, with the goal of unveiling the mural alongside the city’s Riverfront boardwalk renovations. This is a unique opportunity for artists to leave a lasting mark on the heart of Cuyahoga Falls and contribute to a project that will resonate with the community for years to come.
PROJECT BACKGROUND:
The “Pantone of the Cuyahoga River” mural project is part of an initiative to revitalize the urban landscape along Riverfront Parkway in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls. The mural will be installed on the east-facing wall of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC), located at the heart of the city’s cultural district. This highly visible wall, spanning approximately 31 feet by 16 feet, offers an ideal canvas for a large-scale public artwork that will engage both residents and visitors. The mural will be seen prominently from Route 8 and the newly rejuvenated Riverfront Boardwalk, which is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation designed to enhance the area as a vibrant destination for the community.
The wall where the mural will be installed is constructed of non-historic textured plaster, ensuring that the installation aligns with local historic preservation guidelines. Before the mural is applied, the plaster will be repaired for artwork to ensure a durable surface that can withstand weather and wear over time. The mural will cover approximately 550 square feet, including the flat wall space, a door, doorway, window sill, and any protruding architectural features.
The theme of the mural seeks to celebrate the vibrant colors and textures of the Cuyahoga River, symbolizing the natural beauty that flows through the city. The project will offer a unique opportunity for the selected artist or artist team to collaborate with the community and create artwork that reflects the significance of the location to the region. The mural is intended to be a photo-worthy fine art attraction and a source of pride, contributing to the broader cultural landscape of Summit County.
The chosen artist will work with CVAC and local stakeholders to develop a design that aligns with both the community’s vision and the technical specifications of the site. This project will mark a significant addition to Cuyahoga Falls’ public art portfolio, enhancing the city’s aesthetic appeal and strengthening its identity as a center for creativity and cultural engagement. Installation of the mural is planned for the summer of 2025.
PROJECT DETAILS:
Site: Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, 2131 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
The mural will be installed on the east-facing plaster wall of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, covering a flat area of approximately 31’ by 16’. The project will include the flat wall space, door, doorway, window sill, and any protruding architectural features.
SCOPE OF WORK:
The “Pantone of the Cuyahoga River” mural project involves the design, creation, and installation of a large-scale mural on the east-facing wall of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC) in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls. The selected artist or artist team will work closely with CVAC and the community to develop a concept that celebrates the natural beauty of the Cuyahoga River and enhances the urban landscape along Riverfront Parkway.
The mural will cover an area of approximately 550 sf extending over a door, doorway, around a window sill, and incorporating other architectural features. The mural must be designed to integrate these elements while ensuring safety, durability, and aesthetic harmony with the surrounding environment.
Key Tasks Include:
Design Phase
Budget Preparation and Adherence
Material Selection
Site Preparation
Installation
Community Engagement
Maintenance Plan
NOTE: The Cuyahoga Valley Art Center is not seeking a formal artistic proposal or creative strategy at this stage of the application process, as these will be developed in collaboration with project stakeholders.
BUDGET:
The budget for this commission is $20,500, which will be allocated to the selected artist or artist team. This amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the design and creation of the mural, including, but not limited to, the artist’s design fee, assistant costs, materials, surface preparation, the artist’s time for site visits and consultation, travel to and from the location, per diem expenses, project documentation, attendance at community events and public meetings, a contingency for unforeseen expenses, insurance, and any other costs related to completing the mural. Cuyahoga Valley Art Center will cover the cost of initial plaster repair and any strictly necessary site preparation prior to installation.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Artists interested in the “Pantone of the Cuyahoga River” mural project must submit an electronic copy of the required documents by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2024 to:
Danielle M. Dieterich, M.A.
Executive Director, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center
director@cvartcenter.org
Please ensure all documents are submitted by the deadline. The proposal should include the following:
All documents should be submitted in a single PDF file for electronic submission.
For any questions regarding this submission or the project, please contact:
Danielle M. Dieterich, M.A.
director@cvartcenter.org
330-928-8092
SELECTION PROCESS:
All applications will be reviewed by a panel of representatives from the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center. Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
The selection panel will conduct the initial interviews, either in person or virtually. Based on these interviews, one or two will be chosen as semi-finalists and will be asked to complete initial renderings and design concepts. Each semi-finalist will receive a $750 honorarium for this work. The submitted designs will then be reviewed in an interview, either in person or virtually, and a final artist or team will be selected for the project. The goal is to have an artist or artist team selected before January 31, 2025.
QUESTIONS:
Please submit questions concerning this announcement to Danielle M. Dieterich, M.A., Executive Director, at director@cvartcenter.org. Every effort will be made to respond in a reasonable timeframe.