This process includes site-specific considerations resulting from community consultation, research, and engagement regarding cultural representation, history, storytelling, artistic vision, and stylistic cohesion. Our Executive Director and two curators work closely together to shape an initial long list for the Festival.

This list is based on the hundreds of portfolio submissions we receive each year. Artists are then shortlisted for individual walls and pitched to stakeholders such as property owners, funders, and tenants for approval. The curator's primary considerations are the artistic merit of the portfolio, large-mid-scale work experience, and design skills/composition.

Selections will be based on previous work and portfolios to ensure that Chilliwack has a range of artistic and artist representation.

We do and have worked with many emerging artists over the years who now have careers in mural work. We have limited capacity for on-site training so only muralists with previous canvas art experience will be considered for the festival. We encourage emerging artists to work with CMF as temporary exhibitors during the event.

We will select professional and emerging artists who are a mix of local/regional/national/international.

All artists are paid fairly for their participation in the festival. The festival provides all supplies and equipment. Once a muralist is selected for the festival, the artist will be paid to complete a detailed drawing/design. Each artist will be compensated based on their mural's size, scope, and expected travel expenses.

We budget between 1500 and CAD 4500 per mural for artist fees, which will vary from project to project. Payment will be received upon the successful and timely completion of the mural.

What's included in artist selection:

• Artist fee in Canadian dollars

• Hotel or homestay accommodation

• Airport pick-up from YVR

• Hospitality per diem

• Paint order within the contract budget

• Lift or scaffolding

What's NOT included in artist fees:

• Flights or travel to Chilliwack

• Additional food/drink in excess of per diem

• Additional travel

CMF provides all supplies and most gear related to mural creation. Our community has several fantastic suppliers (Dulux, Layout, Sherwin Williams, Bejamin Moore, etc.), but paint orders must be received at least four weeks before artists arrive. Artists are welcome to purchase their supplies and have them shipped, too. The festival would reimburse this. The budget for paint is dependent on the wall size.

Both privately owned walls and public walls are included in the festival. All public walls must go through the City of Chilliwack for approval whereas private wall applications can go through the building owner.

During the application process, the building owners can indicate the artistic styles they are enthusiastic about for privately owned walls. Based on those suggestions, matches are made between artists and walls.

The Chilliwack Mural Festival cannot assist with travel for most of our artists; however, we arrange accommodation and airport travel for visiting artists. If selected, only book your travel once your design has been approved and your painting dates have been confirmed by CMF staff.

Applications for artists will be open from January 9 - January 29, 2025 at midnight (PST).

Successful applicants will be contacted before the end of April for each year.

Artists are encouraged to attend leading up to the festival in August. There will also be opportunities to host workshops for all ages. All additional options will be compensated for appropriately. The painting will take place between July 15-August 15. Selected artists will be scheduled to paint based on their availability.

Walls are selected with the following considerations: accessibility for artists, size, composition, tour route, exposure, safety and funding availability (however, funding is not necessarily a barrier).

Anyone who creates a mural that abides by the City of Chilliwack’s public art policies is invited to participate in the festival and can be included in the celebration and on our map. Get in touch!

Selected artists will be sent a contract for review.

Once signed, they will have eight weeks to provide a rough sketch, a proposed colour scheme, a bio, and a headshot. Upon receiving these items, a 10% design fee can be paid. The artists will then coordinate their painting schedule and paint/supply order with the artistic director. They must stick to the agreed-upon painting schedules, as resources need to be booked well in advance.

No gratuitous violence, racism, or hateful content is permitted, and the mural shall not include any business signage or logos, advertising, political or religious messages.

All Worksafe BC regulations will be enforced, including artists with elevated platforms, fall arrest training, and a current respirator fit test for artists using spray paint.

CMF is funded through municipal, provincial, and federal agencies, and as such, we are obligated to abide by all Provincial Health Orders as mandated by the Province of BC. For all regulations, click here.