How To Get Permission To Paint A Mural

community RESOURCES

Since PSAA is just a small organization, we don't USUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONNECT artists TO WALLS. BELOW ARE SOME RESOURCES TO HELP YOU FIND A MURAL SPACE.

Canvasing local businesses who have blank walls is the best way to find a wall to paint in town right now. Most owners are open to the idea, especially to deter graffiti tagging, draw attention to their businesses, and beautify space. PSAA has created this Mural Space Scouting Flyer about the benefits of murals that can be used by artists when approaching businesses. Having something like this to hand-out, along with business cards and photos of your work, is very helpful to have when asking property owners if you can paint a mural on their wall.

BENEFITS OF MURALS

Murals can discourage tagging and vandalism
Having a mural will save you money over time… less tagging = less buffing
A protective clear coat can be applied to the mural; limiting fading and making the removal of tagging much easier
Murals call attention to businesses and neighborhoods
Murals can be used to promote products or services
Murals are good for local businesses. A 2008 study looked at 265 commercial corridors in Philadelphia and found that business sales increased with the addition of murals in neighborhoods.
Murals improve the quality of public space for everyone to enjoy
Murals can document and honor local histories
Murals can highlight local communities and icons
Murals create a unique sense of place and community identity
Murals and art districts often become tourist attractions
Murals can showcase local artistic talent, or infuse a local scene with more diverse art created by people from around the world
Murals help support the local economy by supporting working artists and promoting tourism
Community murals can provide a platform for community involvement and interaction
Murals foster pride and build neighborhood and city identities

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

IN PORTLAND, GETTING OWNER PERMISSION IS NOT ENOUGH. TO ENSURE YOUR MURAL IS NOT CITED AS BEING 'GRAFFITI,' YOU HAVE TO EITHER GET A CITY PERMIT OR WAIVER.

A helpful resource to understanding these two avenues is the Paint Our Town zine. Please contact the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) to get a copy.

TWO OFFICAL OPTIONS

OPTION 1: GET A CITY MURAL PERMIT

Start process at least 1-2 months before painting
Mural Permit Fee (usually $50)
Fill out mural permit application
Host a 'neighborhood meeting' in a public place
Design review not required (finished murals are inspected to ensure they're not ads)
Murals can only be painted on certain types of properties (check with the city)
Artist keeps VARA rights

See the City of Portland's website for more details and downloadable applications. For assistance with City of Portland mural permitting, artists are encouraged to contact the Arts Concierge at BDS: https://www.portland.gov/bds/arts

OPTION 2: GET A RACC WAIVER

Get an art easement from RACC
No fee
If approved, RACC provides matching funding
Community support needed
Mural design must be submitted beforehand
Design reviewed by RACC's Design Review Committee
RACC can approve murals in all areas of the city
Artist must waive VARA rights
Mural becomes a part of the City's public art collection

See the RACC's website for more details and downloadable applications.

WHY PORTLAND HAS THESE REGULATIONS

At one time, artists could paint murals in Portland with a simple agreement between themselves and the building owner, as is the case in manyother U.S. cities.

In 1998, the City of Portland was thrust into a lengthy and complicated legal battle with AK Media (a company later absorbed by Clear Channel).

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of a handful of art advocates who pushed for the art of mural-making to be recognized, in 2005, RACC began its Public Art Mural Program. In 2009, following the closing of the Clear Channel trial, and the judge's decision (in 2007), the City of Portland's new mural program was created.

Until those two pathways were forged, community murals were either not painted, or were done without City permission, thereby risking citations and fines for building owners being out of compliance with the City's sign code.

Today in Portland, you must obtain a permit from the City of Portland, or go through the Regional Arts & Culture Council to paint an official mural. Un-permitted murals run the risk of being classified as 'graffiti' and removed by Portland's Graffiti Abatement Program.

Both the existing mural programs have certain requirements. The City of Portland's mural permitting process requires a fee and a neighborhood meeting. The RACC waiver is a more comprehensive mural proposal submission and funding opportunity that, if approved, the mural is added to the City's public art collection, ensuring that the artwork is exempt from the City's sign code and will be enjoyed by future generations to come.

The existing systems work, and many murals have been painted since the drought of mural art in the late 1990s and early 2000s, however, there are many ways that certain types of artistic expression are still burdened.

MURAL CREATION BEST PRACTICES

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works has created this helpful guide covering the stages of mural creation, including wall selection, surface preparation, painting, coating, and maintenance.

PSAA has teamed up with Miller Paint & Metro Paint as our local paint partners and suppliers.

Miller Paint has been a part of the Pacific Northwest for 130 years; founded on the creativity, innovation, and commitment to quality of a young artist from Germany, Ernest Miller. Back in the late 1800s, there was not a local paint manufacturer here in Portland. Paint was made and shipped from the East Coast, which lead to constant back orders and paint products not suited for our wet weather. Drawing on his artist background, Ernest began creating his own quality paints, using bright, durable colors crafted to withstand the Pacific Northwest climate. Today, Miller Paint is an employee-owned company with over 50 stores throughout the OR, WA, and ID. Miller Paint is still manufactured locally in Portland, and continues to be known for it's quality and durability.

A lot of artists come to PSAA asking for help and guidance painting murals. Learning to paint murals is a trial and error learning process that takes many years of experience. We often recommend artists to call Miller Paint specialists at their main Grand Avenue location for tips.

PSAA has started compiling helpful tips and tricks below. Each site and situation needs to be evaluated to determine the best paint types, techniques, and approaches to ensure good paint adhesion and longevity.

TIPS FOR PAINTING WITH ACRYLIC PAINT IN COLD WEATHER

Make sure air and surface temperatures are both over 35 degrees. Stop painting by 3pm so paint has more time to dry before temperatures drop at night.
Paint when coatings will have at least 24 hours to dry before rain, fog, or freezing temperatures.
Make sure surfaces are clean and dry (always!)
Don't apply paint too heavily.
Allow more time in-between coats.

MURALS ON A BUDGET

For community murals on a budget, PSAA recommends using Metro Paint. Metro Paint is specially-crafted paint made from recycling old paint. At just $14 a gallon it's a great option for murals that are being done on a budget.

Search for "mis-tints " at Miller Paint or other local paint stores. Mistints are paints that are unused or returned by customers because they're not the right color match or finish. Still great quality paint, but at a fraction of the price! PSAA often uses mistint paint to prepare a base coat our community mural walls.