For Murals
So you want to create a mural in San Francisco?

Here is everything you need to know about what the Arts Commission does and doesn't do.

StreetSmARTs Mural: Meagan Spendlove, 1035 Post Street. Photo: Duy Ta
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No, there is no comprehensive list of murals in San Francisco. If they are on private property and funded privately, they have not gone through a City approval process and are not in the City’s records. Here is a list of websites, which might be helpful to your search:

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If the purpose is strictly advertising, it does not fall under the Arts Commission’s jurisdiction. Permits for advertising need to be discussed with the appropriate agency whose jurisdiction covers the proposed location of the advertisement. For example, if the location is in a park, then contact San Francisco Recreation & Park Department.

Please note, that San Francisco Public Works does not allow for any temporary or permanent signs per ARTICLE 5.6 of the Public Works code. According to the code, "sign" means any card, decoration, poster, campaign sign, poster or any object containing or bearing writing, drawing, painting, figures,designs or symbols that is affixed, posted or fastened in any manner to any property that is permanently attached to the public right-of-way".

For further background, read: this and this.

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No, the City does not keep a list of available walls for murals.

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The City does not keep a list of mural artists. The Arts Commission recommends contacting local neighborhood art agencies or mural collectives if you are looking for a specific type of artist or have a location in mind. You may also want to try Precita Eyes.

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Yes, the San Francisco Arts Commission’s StreetSmARTS program funds murals on private property that have received notices of violation for the removal of graffiti from Public Works. Artists must be included in the StreetSmARTS Prequalified Artist Pool to be eligible to participate in this program. Calls for the Prequalified Artist Pool are posted in the Artist Opportunities section.

The City's Community Challenge Grant Program offers grants for neighborhood beautification projects, which include murals.

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You can report murals on City property or funded by the City in need of restoration to 311 or to:

Grace Weiss, Project Manager
Civic Art Collection and Public Art Program
(415) 310-0259
grace.weiss@sfgov.org

*Please note that the Arts Commission is not responsible for maintaining murals on private property.

What's Coming Up

Public Meeting

Visual Arts Committee Meeting

March 20
/
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 416 and Online
Public Meeting

Executive Committee Meeting

December 18
/
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Hybrid: 401 Van Ness | Rm 125 and Online
Public Meeting

Community Investments Committee Meeting

April 16
/
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 416 and Online
Public Meeting

Civic Design Review Committee Meeting

April 15
/
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Hybrid: City Hall | Rm 416 and Online