A $25,000 grant was recently awarded to the city of Hattiesburg from the National Endowment for the Arts to support a new mural inside the Johnny L. DuPree Public Safety Complex.
The City will be partnering with the Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art (HAPA) to create the mural. The mural going inside of the complex will be titled “The Hattiesburg Way,” representing the city’s values, history, and commitment to public service. It will be a 20 by 15-foot art piece inside the building. CEO of Visit Hattiesburg Marlo Dorsey explained that they were happy that Hattiesburg was able to receive the grant.
“We were really pleased to hear that the city had applied for a grant with the National Endowment for the Arts,” Dorsey said. “And we're thrilled when we heard that they actually received it to put a mural here at the Hattiesburg Public Safety Complex.”
Hattiesburg has issued a call for artists to create this mural. The application must be submitted electronically by 3 p.m. on Friday, March. 21, 2025. No late or incomplete applications will be considered. The artist will be chosen by March 26 with a deadline of April 25, 2025. There will be no extension given to the chosen artist. Dorsey explained what they are looking for in artists.
“We are looking for high quality professional work. That of course does not mean that students are not allowed to apply,” Dorsey said. “If students have previous experience in large scale public art pieces, we certainly do encourage them.”
Dorsey wants the mural to bring the community together and the youth. She hopes that the mural will attract residences to the Public Safety Complex to view the art.
Freshman student Aubri Sparkman has created murals in Hattiesburg including on campus. She created her first mural on campus when she was 16 years old called “Soar and Score.” Sparkman hopes the mural will bring people together and this an opportunity for anyone.
“And it just shows that it doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, you know, like this opportunity is open for everybody,” Sparkman said. “And so yeah, I think it's important for the city to also have it to let people know that the safety department is here.”
For more information about requirements for artists, you can go to https://hburgart.com/call/hattiesburgway/ to apply.