Properties Sought for Route 1 Mural Projects

The Hyattsville Community Development Corporation is looking to transform 20 properties within the Gateway Arts District into large, public works of art. But they need property owners to come forward with artistic visions for their properties.  

Dubbed the Street Art Initiative, the program already has 15 area muralists signed up and awaiting their assignments. A Dropbox gallery shows off the previous work of the selected artists and provides an artists statement for each one.

Interested property owners can apply online with this form or can apply via snail mail by printing, completing and mailing this PDF application form.

The goal of the program is to pair muralists with a total of 20 property owners, five in each of the four municipalities which make up the Gateway Arts District (Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, Brentwood and North Brentwood).

The properties must be located within the Gateway Arts District, which stretches roughly along the Rhode Island and Baltimore avenue's corridors (properties west of Queens Chapel Road are ineligible). Properties will be chosen based on a number of criteria, including proximity to Route 1, property condition, future plans for the property, and property owners' proposed financial contribution to the project. 

A conceptual small-scale rendering of the proposed mural will be provided free of charge. The Street Art Initiative will pay each artist a minimum $500 commission to realize the design. However, the Street Art Initiative encourages property owners to propose a financial contribution to the artist as part of the application process. 

"Provision of a partial or full match by the applicant will make the application more competitive, and can make a big difference in the artist's concept for the work, and in their wall being noticed," reads the program application form.