Lancaster city and a coalition of nonprofits are inviting local artists to submit their qualifications to paint a mural at the Bench Mark building at 102 S. Prince St. in Lancaster’s southwest.
The city’s Office of Public Art is coordinating the project in coordination with Bench Mark, the SoWe neighborhood group, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and South Central PaARTners at Millersville University.
Bench Mark is a mentorship program that offers strength training, conditioning and character development training to at-risk and justice-involved young people.
The mural would be painted on a 36-foot by 22-foot wall on the back of Bench Mark’s building, overlooking Water Street. The subject matter should reflect the theme “An Undercurrent of Strength,” and should relate both to water and to Bench Mark’s strength-building mission, according to the project’s call for artists.
“Themes to consider should include the power of moving water, how individuals flow with the changes, and how a strong undercurrent guides the flow,” the document says.
The selected artist will have a 20-day residency to develop and paint the mural and engage with Bench Mark student participants.
For more information and the application materials, download the call for artists (PDF). The deadline to apply is May 6. Up to three finalists will be notified by May 17; the artist will be selected and notified by May 31.
