Paint it Up! mural program

Since its inception in 2010, Paint it Up! has involved more than 2,754 youth aged 12 to 25. There have been close to 90 mural projects across the city supported by an average grant of $5,000.

Key dates:

• Wednesday, March 22, 2023 @ 1:30 pm – Virtual information session. Click here to register.
• Wednesday, March 22, 2023 @ 6:30 pm – Virtual information session. Click here to register.
• Thursday, March 23, 2023 – deadline to submit your proposed mural location for approval. Submission is through an online form. For mural permit questions, you may contact By-Law and Regulatory Services at muraleottawamural@ottawa.ca.
• Friday, April 14, 2023 – deadline to submit completed application.

Each project must involve:

• A pre-approved mural location
• A non-profit organization with expertise in youth
• An artist or arts organization with expertise in murals
• A representative of the proposed location of the mural

It should also:

• Contribute to a clean, safe and beautiful city
• Be completed under the guidance of an adult mentor
• Seek to increase the skills or employability of youth
• Involve the community, youth and property owner in the mural design
• Engage youth in all aspects of the project

Get inspired by taking a look at our:

• Mural map with locations and pictures of previous murals
• Video of murals completed across the city (2010 to 2014)
• Report on the successful 2022 murals

A note about evolving language

CPO has made efforts to update the language being used around vandalism in the CPO promotions and communications surrounding the Paint it Up! Program. When referring to the unauthorized marking of property and discussing how CPO promotes engagement with youth for community beautification, we have discontinued the word “graffiti”.

Through the Paint it Up! Program and beyond, CPO is committed to understanding and reflecting upon the implications that language carries surrounding urban art, graffiti, and vandalism. The contemporary meaning of the word graffiti is a style of art with historical and modern-day ties to the Black community, and should not be equated with conversations about illegal property marking and tagging.

This critical learning opportunity is a part of CPO’s commitment to approaching all facets of work with an anti-racist lens, as set out in our Strategic Plan.