CALL FOR ARTISTS

Storm Drain Murals

The Ozaukee County Watershed Coalition (OCWC), in partnership with Downtown Port and the City of Port Washington, invites artists to create a small-scale, outdoor storm drain mural. This semipermanent public art project aims to transform a storm drain into a visually appealing piece that highlights the importance of water-quality protection.

The rationale behind painting storm drains lies in their direct connection to local waterways. Pollutants and trash on the streets flow into these drains during rainfall, adversely affecting fish habitats, drinking water supplies, and recreational areas. The initiative seeks to remind residents of the link between their neighborhoods and the larger water systems, including Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes.

CRITERIA

Designs should remain roughly within the dimensions of the storm drain structure while being bold, original, and demonstrate artistic merit. When designing artwork, artists are encouraged to consider the following themes:

• Storm water pollution: “Only Rain Down the Drain”.

• Environmental Protection: The importance of clean water.

• Port Washington Ecosystems: Local wildlife/habitats and natural beauty.

Designs must adhere to the following criteria:

• Educational value: work should educate and engage residents on themes such as storm water runoff/pollution, environmental protection, and/or Port Washington ecosystems.

• Aesthetic value: work should be pleasing and add beauty to the community.

• Proposed work must fit within the designated space and utilize all parts of the drain including the mouth of the drain and metal manhole cover.

• Design cannot contain business promotions or advertisements.

• Design cannot include any breach of intellectual property, brands, trademarks, or depictions of illegal activities.

• Design cannot incorporate any physical objects attached to drains.

• Design must be family friendly.

The City of Port Washington reserves the right to remove any artworks for any reason, at any time.

LOCATION

TBD in Downtown Port Washington.

SELECTION PROCESS

All mural design submissions must be received by May 22nd, 2026.

A panel of judges, including volunteers, local nonprofit leaders, and City of Port Washington employees, will select an artist by June 5th, 2026. All proposals will be evaluated on artistic merit and unique storm drain integration.

The selected artist will be notified by June 8th, 2026.

PROJECT COMPLETION

Specific timeframe for mural installation will be determined by the City of Port Washington, the artist, and OCWC, with the goal of completing it sometime in July.

Paint specialized for sidewalks must be used to ensure the longevity of the project. Paint can be provided in basic colors (white, black, red, yellow, blue), allowing the artist to mix colors as needed. Basic brushes and containers for mixing can also be provided. Artists may want to bring their own unique tools and brushes. If the artist would prefer to purchase their own paints and supplies for the mural they should keep itemized receipts for reimbursement. 

Ozaukee County Watershed Coalition is providing the artist a stipend of $500 for their efforts.

DESIGNS AND QUESTIONS

Please submit mural designs and any questions to OCWC and Patricia Scuglik at: ocwc@lnrp.org And patricia@lnrp.org.