March 8, 2024
Virginia Beach Neptune Festival Celebrates 50 Years with a Commemorative Mural
~Request for Proposal Welcomes All Artistic Styles~
This year marks a momentous milestone as the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival celebrates its 50th Anniversary with an array of captivating activities and events. Since its inception in 1974, the Neptune Festival’s mission has focused on promoting family, community, and togetherness, showcasing Virginia Beach as a spectacular city by the sea, and contributing to the economic growth of the area. This legacy of Celebrating the Beach Life will be captured in a stunning mural planned to appear on a main corridor leading into the oceanfront area, the highly visible side wall of Mermaid Factory at 510 Laskin Road.
The mural, to be designed and painted by a professional artist or artist-led team, will be a beacon of the Festival’s heritage and the welcoming spirit of Virginia Beach—serving to revitalize the landscape with a vibrant and captivating public work of art. Artists are invited to submit proposals for consideration. All artistic styles are welcomed.
“This mural project is an exciting opportunity for us to not only commemorate our 50th Anniversary but also to enrich the cultural landscape of Virginia Beach,” said Kit Chope, President and CEO of the Neptune Festival. “We are eager to see proposals that showcase the creativity and talent of artists while celebrating the unique spirit of our Festival and city.”
The selected artist will have the honor of creating a public work of art that will become a landmark at a gateway to the Oceanfront, welcoming visitors and residents alike to the vibrant seaside City of Virginia Beach. The finished mural is expected to generate excitement and interest within the community, serving as a source of pride for all who call Virginia Beach home.
Nearly twenty years ago, Festival organizers similarly decided to commission a piece of public art that celebrated its Festival, and the Neptune Statue was dedicated to the City of Virginia Beach and its citizens on September 30, 2005, during Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend. The Neptune statue has since appeared in countless tourists’ commemorative photos as the iconic symbol of Virginia Beach. “Much like the Neptune Statue, we envision this mural will be more than just a work of art; it will be a symbol of our commitment to celebrating the beach life and creating lasting memories for generations to come,” added Chope. “We look forward to working with the artist to bring this vision to life.”
The Request for Proposal (RFP) for the mural outlines key milestones, including an application deadline of April 2, 2024, with the installation scheduled for the summer of 2024. Professional artists or artist-led teams residing in the United States are eligible to apply, with preference given to Virginia artists and those with a strong understanding of the Neptune Festival’s history and events.
The RFP window is now open. more information on the mural project’s specifications and requirements and how to submit a proposal, go to https://www.neptunefestival.com/get-involved/mural/
ABOUT THE NEPTUNE FESTIVAL:
Founded in 1974, Virginia Beach Neptune Festival is a private, non-profit 501-C3 organization, producing over 40 events per year, which generate tens of millions of dollars in the local economy and contribute to the charitable, educational, and recreational development of Hampton Roads. The total economic impact to the area of its flagship event alone, the Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend, was $26.1M in 2023. The annual weekend event is ranked among the Top 100 Events in North America and within the Top 20 Events in the Southeastern US by recognized tourism industry organizations. Neptune’s Sand Sculpting Championship is considered one of the best competitions of its kind in the world. The 2024 Boardwalk Weekend is scheduled for September 27th through September 29th this year. For more information, call the Festival office at 757.498.0215 or visit NeptuneFestival.com.