Something New is Coming to the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

Posted by: Linnea Bailey

March 25, 2024

The Council is seeking Palm Beach County-based artists for a new large-scale mural

LAKE WORTH BEACH, FL — The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has announced an opportunity for Palm Beach County-based artists to submit proposals for a large-scale public art project at its headquarters in downtown Lake Worth Beach.

The project will consist of painting a new mural on the south-facing exterior wall of the Cultural Council’s Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. building on Lake Avenue. The Cultural Council is asking artists to celebrate the concept of community in their design proposals, with themes that include healing, unity, connections, wellness, and/or belonging. As the mural will face the outdoor property that will be developed into a future Art & Wellness Space, themes highlighting nature and tranquility are also encouraged.

Artists have until April 19 to submit their plans, and a panel of arts professionals will then select up to three finalists to present concepts.

“As Palm Beach County’s local arts service agency, our mission is to support and serve creative professionals and cultural organizations in The Palm Beaches,” said Dave Lawrence, president and CEO of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. “This new mural project provides Palm Beach County-based professional artists with an opportunity to think big.”

The Cultural Council plans to involve the community in the selection of the final design by displaying the final concepts in its lobby this summer and providing feedback forms for public comment. The selection committee will then reconvene and select the final concept. The selected artist or artist team will have approximately three months to complete the project, slated to debut by early fall 2024.

The historic Art Deco building — whose south wall has showcased Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra’s iconic “I Have a Dream” mural since 2017 — needs repairs to fix cracks and other damage to its facade. The mural itself has also reached the end of its lifespan, as the artist’s original design has sustained significant damage from the sun and graffiti that has needed patching through the years.

Standing at 54 feet wide, the current mural was originally painted as part of the CANVAS mural festival in 2017 and depicts Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous speech during 1963’s March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Since then, the mural has served as a backdrop for the Cultural Council’s outdoor events, as well as a destination for residents, visitors, and photographers alike.

“Outdoor public art, by its very nature, is temporary. Unfortunately, the wall’s current deterioration has made it impossible to preserve,” Lawrence said. “The need for a change is expected; the average lifespan for an outdoor mural in Florida is five to seven years. Additionally, our aging building is also requiring some repairs and maintenance.”

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Cultural Council has raised the funds needed to complete and maintain a new mural. The Council has hosted and been a part of community conversations about the current condition of the building and the Kobra mural, as well as providing information about the process for commissioning a new mural.

The Cultural Council is planning a community sendoff event for the current mural on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Details will be announced soon.

To learn more about the project and submit qualifications to be considered for the public art project, visit www.palmbeachculture.com/our-mural.

About the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, Florida’s Cultural Capital®. Headquartered in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. building in Downtown Lake Worth Beach, the Council presents exciting year-round exhibitions and performances featuring artists who live or work in Palm Beach County. The Council features spectacular work by Palm Beach County-based professional artisans in its Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store and offers complimentary resources for visitors in its Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center. The Council is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and a comprehensive calendar of cultural events in The Palm Beaches, visit palmbeachculture.com.

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Media Contact:
Linnea Bailey (561) 713-0673
pr@palmbeachculture.com