wilsonville public library: murals call for artists

The City of Wilsonville, Oregon is requesting applications from a talented Artist or Artist Team, with expertise in mural design and implementation/installation for interior murals (four walls) in the Children’s Section at the Wilsonville Public Library, located at 8200 SW Wilsonville Rd, Wilsonville, OR 97070. Preference may be given to Artists’ who are experienced in artwork geared towards children. Artist(s) should also be well versed and comfortable with engaging with the community. The budget for this project is not to exceed $20,000, which is inclusive of everything including but not limited to: time, labor, materials, equipment, travel expenses, insurance requirements, etc. In order to minimize closures of the Children’s Section, artists should be able to complete installation within a two-week period from start of install to completion and clean-up.

Themes, Goals and Desired Outcomes of the Murals

The Wilsonville Public Library conducted a data gathering project in July 2025 to elicit patron feedback for what they would like to see in a mural in the children’s room. Patrons were also asked how the library makes them feel. We received over 700 responses.

When patrons are in the library/children’s room, the three most common feelings they felt were happy, calm, and excited. Other popular feelings mentioned were welcome, peaceful, relaxed, and safe.

When patrons were asked what they would like to see in a mural, the most popular themes were animals, nature, books, book characters, and mythical characters.

When visitors step into the Children’s Section and see the murals, we want them to feel all the feelings mentioned above but also feel inspired, curious, and creative. The murals should include elements such as the elements mentioned above with a general sense of whimsy, fun, and freedom.

Site Information

The Wilsonville Public Library is a vibrant, busy hub of the community. The children’s room is the heart of the library. It’s a busy, multipurpose space that not only houses all the books and other materials in the children’s collection, but functions as a meeting place for children and families to gather and interact. There’s a large play area with toys that spark imaginative play and focus on STEAM. There are a lot of “regulars” who have built strong relationships with library staff and other families. Lifelong friendships and connections are made in the children’s room. The children’s room is where people meet, connect, and a community is created. There is also a large patio attached to the children’s room to incorporate the outdoors and provide even more space for conversation and play. Library staff put on theater-style storytimes that often attract more than a hundred attendees. The library provides programming for babies, children, and their families, at least four days a week. The library also hosts bilingual storytimes on the weekends with occasional programs in Spanish and Mandarin. Recently the library underwent a signage project, which features native trees as a motif.

Measurements

1. North Wall – 34’ x 4’ (could potentially add another 5’ of length towards door frame to a painted mural)

2. North East Wall – 22’ x 4’ (at left of entrance when standing in and looking out to main lobby)

3. South East Wall – 22’ x 4’ (at right of entrance when standing in and looking out to main lobby)

4. South Wall – 25’ x 4’ (left of restroom doors)

Timeline

• Design Due: January 9, 2026
• Installation: Mural complete by March 1, 2026