Our Mural
Here’s where you can find the facts about the Cultural Council’s mural on the south-facing wall of our headquarters in Downtown Lake Worth Beach.
Interconnected
Overview
The Cultural Council is pleased to unveil a new mural on the south façade of its headquarters in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. Painted by Palm Beach County-based artist Craig McInnis, the work celebrates community, coming together, and the vast diversity found in Palm Beach County. Craig was selected through a competitive process that included public input and a careful review by a panel of visual art and community professionals. The mural was completed and signed in August 2024.
Mural description from artist Craig McInnis:
“I decided to drive my concept toward the interconnectivity of all people and all things. The idea is that a group of people from all different walks of life gathered together in a circle represents a utopian scenario of peace, love, and health. The circular “table” in the middle speaks to earthly elements, growth, grace, mortality, and power—some of the things that connect us all. The figures are enveloped in abstract flower petals, a representation of the protection that connection provides human beings.”
What was the process used for selecting the artist?
The Cultural Council released a Request for Qualifications in the spring of 2024. A selection panel comprised of community and visual art professionals was assembled to review the Request for Qualifications. From that pool of more than 40 artists from across the county, 3 finalists were chosen. Each finalist received a cash stipend to create a concept drawing for the mural. The designs were displayed in the lobby of the Cultural Council for public comment and input in early summer 2024. The selection committee came back together to review the community feedback, adjudicate the finalists’ designs, and selected Craig McInnis to complete the mural.
When was the new mural dedicated?
The Cultural Council celebrated the launch of the new mural during a dedication ceremony on October 23, 2024. For the ceremony, Palm Beach County-based poet Kimberly Nyesha Smith wrote and read her poem, “Interconnected,” which you can listen to below.
We invite you to visit our new Arts & Wellness Space located immediately south of our headquarters! This space is intended for wellness initiatives operating within an artistic framework and for visitors to enjoy our new mural in comfort.
About the Previous Mural
Mural in 2018, photo by ©Sargent Photography
What was the previous mural?
Why did the Cultural Council need to decommission the mural?
The original mural was created using an aerosol-based application (spray paint) unique to this artist. This makes it nearly impossible to restore. The mural was also never clear-coated after it was completed, which would have provided some protection from UV exposure. Over the years, the Cultural Council has hired Palm Beach County-based professional artists to touch up the mural after graffiti tags and weather damage to the garage door (part of the wall that is susceptible to paint chipping). Not only was the mural extremely faded, but the building was also in need of repair. There were visible cracks and leaks that needed to be addressed.
Why wasn’t the original artist hired to repair/replace the existing mural?
When the Cultural Council recognized the current mural was beginning to fade and lose the artist’s original intent for the work, the nonprofit began the work to decommission the piece. This work was informed by public art best practices and the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (a part of U.S. copyright law). The mural’s original artist, internationally-renowned Eduardo Kobra, was informed about the state of the piece and the plan for decommission and it was determined to be cost-prohibitive to bring him and his large team back to Florida to create new artwork, in addition to the significant cost of repairing the building. The Council also saw this project as an opportunity to give work and exposure to a Palm Beach County-based artist, which is central to its mission as a local arts service agency.
In what ways did the community provide feedback throughout the process?
The Cultural Council worked with Barbara Cheives of Converge & Associates Consulting to conduct community conversations in Lake Worth Beach. The Council has held a public commemoration and celebration of the former mural on April 27, 2024 and the community will be invited to help us ring in milestones for the new mural throughout its lifetime.