RCC Seeks Mural Contest Entries from Community Members

Jackson and Josephine counties – A region-wide competition to design and install “We are Ospreys” murals on each of the three Rogue Community College (RCC) campuses is now open for entries. Students, RCC employees and community artists are invited to participate.

The theme for the project is “Spread Your Wings at RCC.” According to Elizabeth Butler, the RCC marketing department staff member leading the project, the contest “aims to create a sense of belonging.” The winged theme for the murals reflects the college’s avian mascot (the Osprey), and mirrors a current, inspiring social media phenomenon.

“People from many cities around the world are posing for their photo in front of artistic images of large, feathered wing spans,” notes Butler. “Since we see our students flying upward in their careers and educational journeys, our team felt unique wing-themed murals would be a creative and symbolic way of reflecting the impact of RCC in our region.” The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. June 30, 2023.

RCC is seeking submissions from local artists (professional and amateur) to design and produce a mural for each campus: Redwood Campus in Grants Pass, Riverside Campus in Medford and Table Rock Campus in White City. The three locations offer indoor and outdoor options for mural placement.

Selected winners (who are not RCC employees) will be awarded $250 upon completion of the project. RCC employees are welcome to enter, but are not eligible for the prize. RCC students are encouraged to enter, but students who are receiving financial aid should check with their financial aid adviser to make sure the prize doesn’t negatively impact their aid award.

A jury comprised of regionally recognized community artists and RCC art instructors, aided by an RCC Board of Education member and RCC President Randy Weber, will select the three winning entries. The jury will be evaluating the visual quality of the proposed work and how well the work represents the Osprey spirit and culture at RCC. Winning entrants will be granting RCC the perpetual right to reproduce their winning work for use in marketing, promotion, discussion and education.

RCC will pay for materials needed to complete the installation, up to $1,500 per mural. Acceptable mediums for final projects include acrylic, spray paint, digital renderings (to be professionally printed on ACM material), sculpted or laser-cut metal or other three-dimensional material.

Winners will be selected by mid-July and the projects will be installed in September of this year. Public unveiling events are slated for mid-October.

For more information, visit the RCC contest web information page at www.roguecc.edu/mural or contact Elizabeth Butler, at ebutler@roguecc.edu or 541-956-7073.

For general media inquiries or to schedule an interview with RCC staff, please contact Kelly Gonzales, Public Information Officer, Marketing Director, at  541-956-7525, kgonzales@roguecc.edu.