North Idaho Times

The City of Moscow announces the opening of the submission period for Storm Drain Mural proposals on Mon. Jan. 30, 2023.

Artists are invited to submit designs for mobile mini-murals on sign stands, to be placed near highly-visible storm drain inlets. The Storm Drain Mural program was created to raise public awareness for the direct connection between storm drains and local streams. This is an opportunity for artists to share two-dimensional artwork with the public while illustrating Moscow’s commitment to the environment.

Up to two selected artists will install hand-painted murals or provide designs for vinyl installation on City-provided sign blanks to communicate the function of the City’s storm sewer system and its connection to local streams. The murals will be on display for two to four years, and proposals will be accepted online via Submittable through March 9, 2023. 

This call is open to youth and adult artists who live in Latah County, Nez Perce County, Asotin County, Whitman County, Nez Perce or Coeur d’Alene tribal members.

All submissions will be reviewed by a selection panel and a total of two designs will be selected for installation. Each selected artist will receive an honorarium of $300 upon completion of the artwork.

Like many cities, the City of Moscow’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) flows directly into local waterways, including Paradise Creek. Paradise Creek and the South Fork of the Palouse River are listed as impaired waterbodies by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. In October 2019, the City was issued a Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System MS4 permit by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This permit gives the City legal authority to discharge surface water into our local receiving waters. It also lays out specific requirements that the City of Moscow must meet to maintain compliance with its provisions. As part of one of these requirements, Moscow is required to conduct Public Education and Outreach activities. Stormwater murals are a way to meet portions of this provision in a way that engages the community, aligns with the City’s commitment to the Arts, and supports local artists. 

Stormwater runoff from streets, parking lots, and other impervious surface areas, does not go to the Water Reuse & Reclamation Facility for treatment like sanitary sewage does. The water, and whatever it carries, can affect the water quality of our local streams and rivers, as well as those downstream. Things like trash, cigarette butts, sediment, nutrients from fertilizer and dog waste, oil, paint, etc. can degrade water quality and habitat for aquatic life. Successful submissions will be those that address the impact that stormwater has on the ecosystem as well as communicating the shared responsibility to protect precious resources.

The submission form is here: https://moscowarts.submittable.com/submit/ca64f012-ca59-4e32-95ac-ae97a2073112/moscow-public-art-2023-storm-drain-murals 

No emailed or physical design submissions will be accepted for this opportunity. 

More information about this project and the City of Moscow Public Art program is available here: https://www.ci.moscow.id.us/218/Public-Art

Original source can be found here.