Call for Artists: Mural at the Three Creeks Confluence
Authored by Ronnie Pessetto
Seven Canyons Trust is seeking a local artist or artist-led team to design a new community-painted ground mural at the Three Creeks Confluence in Salt Lake City.
One artist or artist team will be selected to develop the mural design and help lead a community painting event where residents and volunteers will bring the artwork to life.
Deadline
October 22 at 11:59 PM MST
Budget
$2,700 commission.
LOCATION OF INSTALLATION
Three Creeks Confluence
Salt Lake City, Utah
PURPOSE
The Three Creeks Confluence is a restored public space where Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys Creeks come together before continuing toward the Jordan River. The site represents an important connection between Salt Lake City’s neighborhoods, waterways, history, and ongoing efforts to restore urban streams.
Seven Canyons Trust is seeking an artist to design a new ground mural that celebrates the Three Creeks Confluence and creates an opportunity for residents to participate directly in creating public art within their community.
Rather than being painted solely by the selected artist, the mural will be completed through a community painting event. The selected artist will develop the final design and help guide community volunteers as they paint the mural.
The project is intended to create an artwork that reflects the identity of the Confluence while encouraging people to think about water, ecology, community, restoration, and our shared responsibility for caring for local waterways.
The mural will replace the existing ground mural located near the Three Creeks Confluence.
Funded by the Salt LAke City Corporation: Love Your Blocks Grant.
community painting event
Community participation is a central component of this project.
Seven Canyons Trust will organize a community painting event at the Three Creeks Confluence where volunteers will help complete the mural under the guidance of the selected artist.
The selected artist should be comfortable working with people of different ages, backgrounds, and artistic skill levels.
During the painting event, the artist will help:
Orient volunteers to the mural concept;
Explain how different portions of the mural should be painted;
Demonstrate painting techniques as needed;
Guide the placement of colors and design elements;
Answer artistic questions;
Help maintain consistency with the approved design; and
Create a welcoming and engaging artistic experience for participants.
Timeline
Call for Artists Opens: October 8, 2026
Application Deadline: October 22 at 11:59 PM MST
Application Review: October 23 to November 6, 2026
Artist Notification & Contracting: November 13, 2026
Mural Fabrication/Creation: November 2026- April 2027
Community Painting Event: May 2027
Details
One selected artist or artist-led team will be commissioned to develop an original design for a community-painted ground mural at the Three Creeks Confluence.
The selected artist will work with Seven Canyons Trust to refine the proposed concept into a final approved design that is appropriate for the site, durable for outdoor conditions, and achievable through a community painting process.
The artist will be responsible for developing the final mural design, identifying colors and recommended materials, and preparing any layouts, grids, templates, measurements, or other guidance needed to transfer the design onto the ground surface.
The artist will also be required to attend and help lead the community painting event at the Three Creeks Confluence. During the event, the artist will provide artistic direction, help guide volunteers, demonstrate painting techniques as needed, and oversee implementation of the approved design.
The mural will be painted primarily by community volunteers. The selected artist will not be expected to personally paint the entire mural but should be comfortable working with participants of varying ages, backgrounds, and artistic experience.
Seven Canyons Trust will coordinate volunteer recruitment, event logistics, and general site coordination. The Trust will also coordinate the purchase of paint, protective coatings, painting supplies, and other materials necessary to complete the mural, with input from the selected artist.
Artists should design with long-term maintenance in mind. The final design should use materials and techniques appropriate for an exterior ground surface and should account for weather, pedestrian activity, fading, and general wear.
The selected artist will be expected to communicate regularly with Seven Canyons Trust throughout the design and implementation process and notify the Trust promptly of any scheduling concerns, material needs, or potential delays.
Where will the ground mural be?
The mural will be in the orange are below:
The artwork should meet as many of the following goals as possible:
Celebrate the Three Creeks Confluence as a place where people, water, and nature come together;
Highlight Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys Creeks and their connection to the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake;
Increase awareness of Salt Lake Valley’s urban waterways and watershed;
Celebrate the ecological and cultural importance of water;
Reflect the surrounding community and create a welcoming sense of place;
Encourage environmental stewardship and care for public spaces;
Create an engaging piece of public art that can be successfully painted with community volunteers;
Strengthen community ownership and connection to the Three Creeks Confluence; and
Create a hopeful and engaging experience centered on restoration, water, nature, and community.
Artists are encouraged to think creatively about how the mural can tell the story of the Confluence while remaining approachable enough for community members of varying ages and artistic abilities to participate in painting it.
The artwork must also conform to the following design criteria:
Avoids metallic and reflective materials that cause glare for users, drivers, and reflects into nearby buildings;
Avoids shapes and colors common to standard street signs or pavement markings (see the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices);
Does not include logos, infringe upon any copyright or trademarks, or function as a sign or advertising in any way (Sign Ordinance - Chapter 21A.416 of Salt Lake City Code);
Is free and clear of obscenities or vulgarity as determined by the Selection Committee;
Utilizes materials and supplies appropriate for Salt Lake City’s variable climate;
Resists general wear, vandalism, and offers easy and low-cost maintenance; and
Meets public safety and maintenance standards and all applicable United States, State of Utah, Salt Lake City, and any other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
The artwork must be sealed, including all edges, to be water resistant.
ALL CAN APPLY
Seven Canyons Trust are seeking proposals from qualified local artists to design their Water Drop for the Folsom Trail Hidden Waters installation. This request for proposals is open to all artist and/or artist-led teams residing in Utah regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, political opinion and affiliation, and mental and physical ability.
Selection of the artist(s) will be based on having met as many of the following criteria as possible:
Robust professional experience in accomplishing projects of similar scope and scale;
Ability to meet deadlines, budget, and perform work in a timely, professional manner;
Willingness to consult and work collaboratively with partners, Selection Committee, stakeholders, and community members;
Understanding of the project goals, placemaking concepts, and design in a context-sensitive manner;
Interest in the project and connection to the surrounding community; and
Creation of previous lasting works that do not require excessive maintenance, repair costs, and meet all public safety and maintenance standards.
REVIEW PROCESS AND COMMISSION
Seven Canyon Trust will review and make sure all submitted applications meet the established requirements and deadlines. All properly submitted applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee. The Committee will select one artist. The Selection Committee shall be a group of representatives, including but not limited to, the Seven Canyons Trust, Salt Lake City Corporation, and Glendale Neighborhood Council.
One artist or group will receive $2,700. This sum is inclusive of all fees and related expenses including, but not limited to, design, preparation, materials, protective coating, travel, or any other costs incurred to perform the work. Artwork should include elements on both sides of the framework (either duplicated or double-sided).
The total commission for the selected artist is $2,700. Payment will be made as follows:
$1,350 (50%) upon artist selection, signing of the artist agreement, and design approval.
$1,350 (50%) will be made upon completion of the mural.
The selected artist will enter into an agreement with the Seven Canyons Trust. The alternates will only enter into an agreement if the Trust and any of the eight selected artist(s) are unable, for any reason and within the Trust’s sole discretion, to enter into an agreement. The agreement lays out the terms and conditions of the project, including services, compensation, quality assurance, insurance, termination, ownership, and maintenance. The selected artist(s) will be required to carry general liability insurance, auto insurance, and workers’ compensation (unless a waiver of coverage is allowed and acquired).
SUBMISSION
Please send submissions to info@sevencanyonstrust.org in PDF format. Submissions are due October 23, at 11:59 PM MST.
Please direct all questions to info@sevencanyonstrust.org until October 21, 2026. Please review the website prior to emailing questions. Questions received after October 21st will go unanswered.
Applications that meet this deadline and all other requirements will be reviewed. Applications should be packaged into a single file and submitted as a .PDF with the following file name: last name_first name_proposal.pdf. There is no application fee.
Late, incomplete, or applications not submitted within the page lengths, formatting, or parameters below (as determined by the Selection Committee) will not be reviewed. Please do not include additional materials not requested herein. This may result in disqualification.
Each application should include the following REQUIRED materials:
Cover Letter (One Page Limit) – Briefly describe your proposal, your interest in and qualifications for the request, and any other applicable information. The letter must include the address, email, and phone number of the artist(s).
Proposal (Two Page Limit) – Describe in detail your concept, what narrative the piece is covering, how it meets the above goals, and any other helpful considerations. Although it is not required, artists are encouraged to include a sketch, graphic, or rendering of the proposed design(s).
Applications may also include the following OPTIONAL materials:
Artwork Examples (Five Image Limit) – A maximum of five images of prior artwork by the artist(s). Under, near, or on the image, please include the artwork title, year, medium, dimensions, and a brief description. Please do not submit collages containing multiple images.
Resume (Two Page Limit per Artist) – This should include the artist’s training, professional experience, name, address, email, and phone number. Each artist may submit a two-page resume.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES
Seven Canyons Trust and the Selection Committee reserves the right to proceed with additional selection processes, reject any or all submissions, and revise the evaluation process. Any revisions will be announced in writing to all respondents and on applicable materials. The Selection Committee will determine, at its sole discretion and based on the submitted information, the most qualified application as evaluated by the criteria herein. The determination shall be final and conclusive.
The issuance of the request for proposals and the receipt and evaluation of submittals does not obligate the Selection Committee to select an artist(s) or enter into an agreement. Applicants shall not contact the members of the Selection Committee to manipulate or otherwise influence the process in any way. This process may be canceled at any time prior to the execution of an agreement without liability. Seven Canyons Trust and Selection Committee reserves the right to then pursue negotiations with an alternative artist(s). Costs incurred in responding to this request will not be compensated.
