Anchorage Park Foundation is seeking Alaskan artists to bring color, creativity, and culture to two parks through 2 distinct murals – one at Kiwanis Fish Creek Park and one at Tikishla Park. Artists may apply to create, design, and paint one mural or both murals. Both of these neighborhoods are home to incredible artists, and this project seeks to uplift these local talents. We welcome professional artists, student artists, artist teams, and school groups to apply. Artists may design and paint the mural or may propose to design and sketch the mural for local volunteers or youth to paint in. AK Bookmobile is offering projection equipment that may be utilized to project the artist design on the surface during the draft installation process in preparation for painting, if desired.
Kiwanis Fish Creek Park Mural Project:
The Dena’ina name for Fish Creek is “Ch’atanaltsegh,” meaning yellow water comes out. Kiwanis Fish Creek Park sits alongside Fish Creek and the Fish Creek Trail and features a playground. A goal of this project is to bring local stories and art into a creative place-making project that builds upon the Stories of Fish Creek project. In 2021-2023, 6 interpretive signs and a mosaic were installed with the Stories of Fish Creek project, with signs reflecting the spirit of Spenard and Fish Creek. It is our hope that a mural at Kiwanis Fish Creek Park will build upon these placemaking efforts to further enrich the community. Stories of Fish Creek sign descriptions and illustrations can be found here. The location of the Kiwanis Fish Creek Park mural is on the park’s south side retaining wall, which currently has a weathered mural of fish painted by school children. The retaining wall is approximately 3′ x 106′. A materials budget of up to $2,000 is available at the start of the project and artist stipend of $3,000, paid at the completion of the mural installation.
Tikishla Park Mural Project:
The Dena’ina name for Tikishla Park is derived from “ghedishla”, meaning black bear. This history was honored in the design of the 2021 playground upgrades at the park, which included a black bear climbing piece. The park is located along the Chester Creek Greenbelt and includes forest, stream, meadow, and wetlands as well as a hockey rink, the playground, the Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail, and many soft-surface trails. Tikishla Park Community Council has expressed interest in a mural that reflects the culture of the Airport Heights community, and we are excited to see what ideas local artists have to breathe life into this mundane wall. The location of the Tikishla Park mural is on the small storage building next to the Scotty Gomez neighborhood ice rink. The concrete 20′ x 25′ building is currently painted white. A materials budget of up to $3,000 is available at the start of the project and artist stipend of $4,000, paid at the completion of the mural installation.
Application Deadline: Wednesday April 15th, 5pm
Artist Notification of Selection: Friday May 22nd
Artists Complete Projects by: Wednesday September 30th
Project Contact:
Ally Merrill, Community Engagement Manager, Email
Thank You
This project is in partnership with AK Bookmobile, Anchorage Parks & Recreation, NeighborWorks Alaska, Spenard Community Council, Turnagain Community Council, and Airport Heights Community Council. This project is made possible thanks to the support of a Beyond the Beige grant, funded through the Municipality of Anchorage and the Anchorage Community Development Authority.
