Public Arts in Occoquan

Mill Street Pocket Park  Mural

In the Fall of 2025, The Town of Occoquan received a Community Vitality Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The Town will use this money to improve an underused area of the historic downtown to create a new public space with community based public art. As part of the grant, a mural will be installed at the pump house building located at 172 Mill Street to add public art to the proposed Pocket Park. The mural artist selected will receive a commission of $6,000.00 and up to $2,000.00 to cover their materials.  Town Hall Staff will renovate the building, add landscaping and furnishings to make this mural a great spot to visit in Town!

The Space

Each wall is about 135.75 inches (11.3 feet) wide by 124.75 inches (10.4 feet) high on the building.

Here are the Guidelines for the mural contest and for juror selection:

Mural Guidelines

• Must be original artwork of the person(s) named on the entry form
• When possible, encourage public engagement
• No political, social, or religious statements or influences
• When possible, represent a pro-Occoquan message
• Happy, uplifting, inspiring and colorful in nature
• No advertisements, logos or copyrighted images
• Universal appeal – accepted and loved
• Follow the spirit of the Town’s Architectural Review Board guidelines, found at: occoquanva.gov/architectural-review-board/
  • Neon, fluorescent, or reflective type colors are discouraged
• Keep the piece relevant to the Town of Occoquan’s values, culture and people
  • Some theme ideas: natural beauty of the river, trails, & wildlife; Occoquan’s history

Artist Guidelines 

• Artist must have the capacity to paint/install the designs for themselves
• Artist must have the experience in this process or understand the right steps of scaling a small drawing to the mural space
• Artist must reside, work, or study in Virginia, Maryland, or the District of Columbia
• Artist must have the ability to work in the United States

Evaluation Criteria: 

In deciding on the winner of the contest, the Town will use the below criteria:

• The aesthetic beauty of the mural design
• Use of color and light
• Utilization of Space
• The proposed design’s fidelity to the mural guidelines
• The qualifications and experience of the applicant
• The estimated cost for the install of the mural 

Please apply by Friday March 6th by 8pm!

Town Council will choose the winning design at the Town Council Meeting on Tuesday March 17th at 7pm!

Juror Guidelines 

• Jurors must be one of the following: resident, business owner, or member of a Town Board or Commission
• Jurors must submit an application explaining their relationship to town and view of public art
• Jurors must be available to vote between March 9^th –March 13^th

Please apply by Friday March 6th by 8pm!