The "Secret" Mural Project: What Are We Planning For Oil City

If you were at our last meeting, you probably heard me whispering (okay, maybe enthusiastically gesturing) about a new collaboration with the Public Art Board. I’ve been trying to keep it under wraps, mostly because it’s still in that “infancy stage” which is code for “lots of coffee and optimistic sketches on napkins.”

But, the cat is officially peeking out of the bag: we are working on Mural Fest!

The Progress Report

We’ve had several meetings at the Oil Region Alliance (ORA) with the Public Art Committee. The energy in the room is high, and honestly, it’s contagious. This isn’t just about putting murals up around town, it’s about creating a positive and welcoming atmosphere and bringing people in to experience the beauty and talent this town already holds.

A massive shout-out is already in order for the Oil City Council, the ORA, Main Street, the Public Art Committee, and The Fallen Shoppe. These are the folks helping us navigate the “how-to” and bringing this awesomeness to life. So far, the City Council has given us the green light on several fronts, and have been receptive to the ideas we have.

A vibrant mural depicting a lively scene on Seneca Street, featuring a diverse group of people smiling and interacting. One artist is painting a section of the mural while another person stands nearby, observing. — Murals done right and placed in the right areas can amplify a space and bring interest to areas that need it.

What’s the Big Idea?

We want this event to be more than just “cool pictures on walls.” Our goal is to:

Create a Living Gallery: We want to give residents and visitors more reason to wander our streets, look around, and see our town and the beautiful art we hope to bring. the idea is that installations will be strategically placed to not compete with the beauty of our area’s nature and architecture, but to amplify it and beautify some areas that may need some love.
Empower the Artists: This is about providing a stage for the unique talent in our area and to showcase the art movement in our town while being supported for the work the artists create.
The Economic “Spark”: When people come for the art and nature here, they stay for the coffee, hit up our shops, and realize just how much our city has to offer. We love this place and we want to show off just how amazing our community is.

Let’s Talk Business (Literally)

Right now, we are in the “boring but necessary” phase of drafting grant proposals and sponsorship packages. However, we aren’t interested in just tossing a generic PDF at our local businesses.

We want to meet with you (Our Amazing Local Businesses). We want to build sponsorship tiers that actually benefit your business not just stick your logo on a flyer that ends up in a recycling bin. If we’re going to do this, we want it to be a win for the people who keep the heart of our town beating.

Interior view of a lively café with a decorative ceiling and several people engaging in conversation. Two women are speaking near a microphone while children play nearby, and other patrons are seated at tables. — We have some awesome businesses in this and the surrounding towns that support the arts!

The Reality Check

As much as I’d love to snap my fingers and have this all happen by next Tuesday, these things don’t happen overnight. There is still a mountain of approvals, logistics, and “boring paperwork” to navigate before the needle really starts to move.

The Goal: Make Mural Fest happen this year.
The Backup Plan: We are 100% willing to push it to next year if it means getting all our T’s crossed and our I’s dotted. We’d rather do it right than do it fast.

We are so excited about this journey and can’t wait to share more as we move from the “infancy stage” to the “actually having a plan” stage! Stay tuned!