Call for Mural Walls
- AC Crew
- Dec 18
- 3 min read
Alternating Currents is seeking property owners in downtown Davenport, Bettendorf, and Rock Island interested in donating wall space for the 2026 Alternating Currents Mural Fest.
Each year, Alternating Currents brings large-scale public art to downtown spaces, transforming blank walls into vibrant murals created by professional artists. If you have an empty, visible wall that could become a lasting piece of public art, we’d love to hear from you.
👉 Apply to donate a wall:
What’s in it for your building?
Participating property owners help shape the creative identity of our downtown neighborhoods while gaining a unique visual asset for their building.
By donating a wall, you can:
Enhance the visual appeal of your property
Contribute to the cultural fabric of downtown
Attract positive attention and foot traffic
Receive a professionally curated mural through a festival program
Murals are installed during Alternating Currents and remain as a long-term community asset.
Wall Criteria
Submitted walls must be located in downtown Davenport, downtown Bettendorf, or downtown Rock Island.
Priority will be given to walls that are:
Highly visible or located in high-traffic areas
Structurally sound and paint-ready
Unobstructed by signage, vegetation, or mechanical elements
Artist Selection & Matching Process
All muralist applications are reviewed and scored by an independent selection panel through Quad City Arts.
Property owners will be able to:
View a shortlist of top-scoring artists
Indicate a preferred artist if desired (optional)
Final artist assignments are made by the Alternating Currents team based on:
Artistic fit
Wall size and feasibility
District budget guidelines
Overall festival curation
Submitting a preference does not guarantee a specific artist, style, theme, or aesthetic direction.
Creative Control & Expectations
Alternating Currents Mural Fest is an artist-driven program.
By submitting a wall, property owners acknowledge:
This is not a commissioned mural
Final design approval does not rest with the property owner
Creative direction belongs to the artist and festival team
Murals must remain in place for a minimum of three years, unless removal is required for structural or safety reasons
Artists retain creative freedom within festival-wide content guidelines. Murals will not include hate speech, explicit imagery, or political or religious themes, ensuring installations remain welcoming to a broad public audience.
Project Cost Structure (Please Read Carefully)
Alternating Currents Mural Fest is funded through multiple downtown districts, each with different tools and budgets. Because of this, project costs vary by location and scale.
Downtown Davenport & Downtown Bettendorf
Standard mural installations are typically fully funded through the festival
Larger-scale or specialty installations may involve shared investment
Downtown Rock Island
Murals typically follow a shared-investment model
Property owners may be asked to contribute a portion of the cost
Important notes:
Most Davenport and Bettendorf walls will have no cost to the property owner
Rock Island applicants should be prepared for potential cost-sharing
Cost discussions occur only if a wall is selected
Submitting a wall does not commit you to any financial contribution
2026 Mural Fest Timeline
January 15, 2026 – Wall submissions due
February 2026 – Artist call opens
March 2026 – Artist selection & wall assignments
May 2026 – Concept development begins
Mid-August 2026 – Artists onsite; mural installations begin
Sunday, August 16, 2026 – All murals complete
A Community-Driven Program
Alternating Currents Mural Fest celebrates artistic expression and public creativity. By participating, property owners support an artist’s unique voice and help bring high-quality, large-scale artwork to the community, artwork that would typically require a significant private investment.
👉 Submit your wall for consideration:
Comments