The City of Elma is developing a new public mural that will celebrate community identity and create a vibrant visual feature in downtown Elma. The mural project is being completed through a multi-phase process that invites community participation and professional artistic collaboration.
Phase 1- Community Art Concept Contest
Phase 1 of the project invited residents of East Grays Harbor County of all ages to submit original artwork representing the theme “Where Everyone Belongs.” The winning concept(s) will influence the final mural, which will be created by a professional muralist.
The contest closed in January 2026 and the City received 10 creative concept submissions from local artists. We sincerely thank everyone who participated and shared their vision for our community.
Below are the concept entries that were submitted for consideration.
The concept contest includes the following awards:
• 1st Place: $500 and the opportunity to have your concept featured as the base design for the mural
• 2nd Place: $300
• 3rd Place: $200
The contest winners will be announced after the final mural design is completed during Phase 2.
Phase 2- Mural Design and Artist Selection
The project is now moving into Phase 2, where the City will select a mural artist to develop and install the final mural.
During this phase:
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The City will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for qualified mural artists.
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Artists will review the community concept submissions for inspiration.
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Selected artists will submit design proposals based on the selected community concepts.
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A muralist will be selected to create the final mural design and complete installation.
The final mural will incorporate elements or ideas from several community concept submissions. #muralsofelmawa