StreetSpark seeking muralists

Hamilton, Ohio – The StreetSpark mural program invites interested artists to fill out a Request for Qualifications to create one of two large-scale murals on tap for 2026. 

The call to artists for Hamilton’s premiere mural program opened Wednesday, November 5, with an application deadline of Friday, December 7.

The larger of the two mural sites is about 1,650 square-feet at Meyer Brothers & Sons on the corner of Maple Avenue and 7^th Street (720 Maple Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio 45011) in the Jefferson Neighborhood. The smaller site is about 700 square feet at Pfefferle Tire & Auto (990 Main St. Hamilton, Ohio 45013).

“We love these ongoing opportunities to create public art that helps showcase our city and its many diverse neighborhoods,” said StreetSpark program manager Jennifer Acus-Smith. “We’re always working to create connections and opportunities for our artists, for our residents, for our businesses who let us paint their buildings. We enjoy bringing beauty and inspiration to spaces that would otherwise be dull and colorless and boosting neighborhood pride in the process.”

A selection committee of artists, visual art professionals, community members and program partners from within a 35-mile radius of Hamilton reviews each submission in early 2026 and awards three semifinalists $500 each. The selected artists then develop their final design proposals.

Next, the committee selects and announces the winning design in April 0f 2026 and awards an additional $1,000 stipend to its artist. Selected designers create their murals in the summer of 2026 with a team of local supporting artists.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and should have experience in mural design, creation and team management. Acus-Smith encourages artists from all backgrounds to participate in the RFQ process.

Please visit the StreetSpark page on the Fitton Center website for complete RFQ details; click here for the required form. Artists may contact Acus-Smith at streetsparkart@gmail.com with questions.

Originated in 2016 as a partnership between the Fitton Center for Creative Arts and the City of Hamilton, 2026 marks StreetSpark’s 10th year transforming public spaces through murals. Funding for the project comes from the City of Hamilton, the Hamilton Community Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council.

Since its inception, Street Spark artists have designed and painted 21 murals and 17 utility boxes. The newest is 2025’s Viva el Sueño (Live the Dream) by Anna Ganina of Austin, Texas. The 1,860-square-foot design adorns Hamilton Living Water Ministry at 510 S. Eighth St. Hamilton, OH 45011.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture