The ColorBlock mural project launched last year with five new murals in downtown Eau Claire. This year, Sculpture Tour of Eau Claire and ColorBlock will select 10 final designs to spruce up the 600 block of South Barstow Street and Graham Avenue.

ColorBlock will make a colorful splash downtown with its second annual mural project, which is now open for submissions through June 1. This year’s theme – “Progress” – aligns with ColorBlock’s goal to “inspire visual arts” as well as “revitalize and re-energize parts of downtown that need some love,” according to the website.

“We want to provide a prompt that is relevant and thought-provoking,” said organizer Kelsey Wenberg, “and open enough to encourage many different interpretations and artistic styles.”

Applications must include a completed artist application (which you can find at sculpturetour.org/murals), colored sketches of up to three different mural designs (original or JPEG files), up to three examples of previous original work, and an artist statement that describes how your work encapsulates the “Progress” theme.

Designs will be chosen by June 20, with paint going on the walls beginning on Aug. 1. Murals are slated to be complete by Aug. 15. Basic materials – including paint, paint trays, brushes, drop cloths, and ladders – will be provided.

“We’re super excited to bring more public sculptures and murals to our community,” Wenberg said.

For more information, visit sculpturetour.org/murals.