Community Mural Toolkit

This toolkit created by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach is a one-stop resource to learn about the benefits of creating community murals, the types of materials, sites, and spaces needed to create murals and strategies for engaging your community.

If you’re reading this, you are likely considering a community art project or are possibly in the early stages of planning a public art project with your community. You’re not alone! In the past decade, public art and creative placemaking efforts have expanded by leaps and bounds into all corners of the United States: in rural communities, urban neighborhoods, suburbia, and all places in between. It’s important to consider how to use this opportunity to build community support in the process of adding to the cultural richness of your place. 

This guide offers an introduction to community mural making and an invitation to consider and explore your community’s goal for creating community art. In the following pages, you will find: community benefits of murals, material, site, and space needs, community engagement strategies, a sample budget, potential funding strategies, evaluation methods, and project examples. This toolkit aims to show that community art is so much more than the final product itself: the art-making process can aid in building bridges between diverse groups and add to building stronger communities wherever you live. 

• Timeframe to complete:  Weeks to Months; under 1 year 

• Cost Range: free to low cost; project cost varies

• Keywords: Youth, Public Spaces, Sense of Place, Downtown Investments, Public Art, Buildings, Public Spaces & Gathering Places, Mural, Strategies

• This project was created by Jennifer Drinkwater, Community Arts Extension Specialist at Iowa State University Extension. Click on the button below to access the resource.