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Big Read

Mural Contest

MRL Big Read Mural Contest

Applications Close: January 5 - winning design announced to the public at the Big Read Kickoff (February 28)

Prize: $1,000

Project Budget: $10,000

Proposed Timeframe for Construction: February 14-April 11 - mural to be unveiled as part of the 2025 Rocktown Author Festival (April 12), weather permitting.

Massanutten Regional Library seeks to award an artist a chance to design a large mural on the Bruce Street wall of Central Library, located at 174 S. Main St. in Harrisonburg. 

Artists are free to present their design, which should demonstrate the theme of MRL’s vision: to be the welcoming heart of our community where all come to learn, discover, create, and connect. We intend for the painted mural to be permanent and provide a welcoming visual signal to our community for years to come.  

This project’s creative goals are a) contribute an aesthetically pleasing artwork on a large empty brick “canvas” b) demonstrate visually the mission, vision, and values of the Massanutten Regional Library and that library services are available to everyone, reflective of the inclusiveness of our Harrisonburg-Rockingham County community, and c) provide a closing artistic activity to our Big Read 2025 programming. The goals of the NEA Big Read initiative are to inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.  

We hope that seeing this public mural will encourage more of our community to take advantage of the benefits and services of the library, while also communicating the welcoming nature of our Friendly City.   

Being in a prominent location in downtown Harrisonburg, this project will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people per year. We expect this mural to have a sizable positive impact on the arts scene in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community. While we will provide leeway to the winning artist as to size, we expect at minimum a 20’ x 20’ mural.  Submissions will be judged by a small team under the following criteria: artistic merit, fit with the creative goals, and demonstrated experience.

MRL Big Read Mural Contest Application
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