Press release from the City of Arcata Eureka:

The City of Eureka is excited to announce two big community art projects planned for this summer and artists are encouraged to apply for them now!

For experienced muralists, the City seeks proposals to create a mural for the new gateway monument being planned for the southern entrance to Eureka, at the Herrick Avenue Overpass. For new and experienced muralists alike, the Utility Box Art! program seeks proposals to paint more utility boxes in Eureka.

See below for more details on each project.

Herrick Avenue Overpass Gateway with Mural

The City of Eureka, Caltrans, and the Eureka Street Art Festival are partnering on a gateway mural project at the Herrick Avenue overpass. The project will have two phases; the first is the painting of a mural on the overpass and adding native, drought-tolerant landscaping in the greenways next to it. Phase one will be completed this fall. The second phase will install gateway signage along the railing of the overpass. Phase two still needs to be funded and will be completed at a later date.

The City of Eureka will install the landscaping and, in coordination with the Eureka Street Art Festival, administer the new mural on the Herrick Avenue overpass. The mural has been added to this year’s Eureka Street Art Festival, July 31st - August 5th, 2023. While a part of the festival, this project is going through a separate selection process to find a mural proposal for Eureka’s southern gateway.

Phase one is fully financed, thanks to Caltrans and Clean California grant funding. This is the same grant funding that made the Eureka Street Art Festival murals under Samoa Bridge possible last year. Following that success, City staff shared a dream project of a mural on the Herrick overpass to welcome northbound travelers. Caltrans approved funding for the Herrick Overpass project and recently gave the greenlight to go ahead with the mural. However, the funding requires a quick turn-around which is why the Request for Proposal timeline is tight and completion is timed with the Eureka Street Art Festival.

The Request for Proposals is now open, and all proposals are due by 5:00 PM, Friday, June 23, 2023. The RFP details and application portal can be found on the City of Eureka’s website. A selection committee will narrow down the applications to the top three proposals. Then the public will have the opportunity to provide input on which design they would like to see completed. Eureka City Council will have final approval. The compensation for this project to the artist or artist team is $55,000 and includes reimbursement for travel costs to the artists, if outside of the Humboldt area.

For questions regarding the Herrick Overpass Mural, please contact Swan Asbury, Economic Development Manager, phone: (707) 268-1830, email: sasbury@eurekaca.gov.

Eureka Utility Box Art! Program

The Eureka Utility Box Art! Program’s goal is to use utility boxes as “canvases” for original pieces of art and contribute to the vitality and attractiveness of the city, while deterring graffiti. This is a paid opportunity and artists may apply to have their artwork on a box via the Call for Artist Proposals. Artist applications are due by July 5th, 2023.This opportunity is open only to Humboldt County residents who don’t have a utility box mural in the City of Eureka program.

For questions regarding the Utility Box Art! program, please contact Sarah West, Economic Development Coordinator, phone: (707) 441-4178, email: swest@eurekaca.gov.