A mural is a gorgeous way to draw traffic and interest to the businesses inside a building and public artworks are an effective method of keeping unwanted graffiti and tagging off walls. When you participate in Nelson International Mural Festival as a wall owner, we take all the work off your plate: we secure the permits, insurance, equipment, and handle all communications and contracts with the artist. The funds that our building owners contribute go directly toward paying the professional artists their fees.
When you apply to be a participating wall owner, you get to select several artistic genres that interest you. Artists apply to paint through the festival and are then vetted by an arms-length jury. We then match the top artists of each genre with participating building owners. To learn about the different mural genres, check out these art genres complied by NIMF curator Amber Santos.
In the next part of the process, the selected artist will submit a draft for review. Building owners will then have one opportunity to consult with the artist for a draft alteration if needed. After this, we begin the painting process!
All festival murals are listed in our digital and physical mural maps and are often also included in the various tours NIMF organizes and participates in.
“We have forged a strong partnership with the Nelson International Mural Festival since its inception. This program has supported the talents of both local and international artists who ultimately color our town creating more character and style.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the professional crew of people who have made it all possible. We look forward to seeing it progress onto more canvasses in the future.”
– Ryan Martin, Hume Hotel GM & Owner
