Open call to establish a panel of professional visual artists to design and paint up to 8 large-scale exterior murals across Tullamore, Co Offaly. Commissions €5,000 –€15,000, per mural. Funded by Offaly County Council and Creative Ireland in partnership with Tullamore Tidy Towns. Offaly County Council and Tullamore Tidy Towns will form a panel of artists to deliver original artworks in Tullamore between 2026–2030. Artists on the panel will be invited to create murals across the five-year programme.
Deadline for applications to be part of the panel: Monday 18th May 2026, 11:00am.
Project overview
Commissioning of original exterior murals to activate public space and celebrate Tullamore’s identity, creating a self-guided mural trail across Tullamore town centre and key approach routes for residents and visitors. A panel of artists will be formed and from there, panelled artists may be invited to propose work for specific areas in Tullamore. Invitation be direct to one artist, or a call out to all artists on the panel. The panel will last from 2026 – 2030, with an option to extend by up to two years if deemed necessary by Offaly County Council.
Who can apply and eligibility
This panel is for professional visual artists with a background in creating large-scale exterior work, who are interested in creating original works in Tullamore between 2026 and 2030.
Artists aged 18+; able to provide or obtain public liability insurance and comply with Offaly County Council health and safety requirements. Commissioned artists must provide a Tax Clearance Certificate.
Applicants may be considered for immediate commissions in 2026 and for inclusion on the 2026–2030 Artist Panel for future commissions.
Sites scale and budgets:
Fee per mural: Approximately €5,000 –€15,000, depending on scale and complexity. Fee covers design, materials, travel, insurance, VAT and artist fee.
Access and equipment: Artist will be required to take on the role of PSCS and and manage / co-ordinate the works (setting up exclusion zone, hiring M.E.W.P/Scaffolding – erecting of same as needed to carry out the mural). Artists will work with Offaly County Council on traffic management planning if necessary.
Themes, community engagement and requirements
Suggested themes: Original concepts that engage local communities in heritage.
Community element: Shortlisted artists must include a brief public engagement activity such as a workshop, talk, or school visit.
Permissions and safety: Upon commissioning an artist for a mural from this panel, Offaly County Council and Tullamore Tidy Towns will arrange landowner permissions and planning where needed. Artists must submit a risk assessment and method statement before work begins.
Application requirements submit as single PDF:
Artist statement and information on previous work, including public engagement activities. (max 300 words).
Methodology for working on site, regarding health and safety, risk assessment, traffic management, working at height, managing scaffolding and / or Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP). Please include information on types of materials used to create work. Artists may include information on their experience working at height and relevant certs if available. (max 300 words)
Visuals: Up to 6 images of past large-scale works (embedded JPEGs).
CV and two professional references.
Proof of public liability insurance or a statement of willingness to obtain it.
Submit: One PDF via SUBMIT.com
Enquiries to: arts@offalycoco.ie with ‘Tullamore Murals’ in subject line.
Selection process and timeline:
Application deadline: Monday 18th May 2026, 11:00am
1st mural production: August - September 2026.
Panel formation: Shortlisted artists will be invited to join the Tullamore Artist Panel 2026–2030. Panel members will be eligible for future commissions and invited to periodic calls for proposals across the five-year programme.
Selection criteria: Artistic quality of previous work; experience with large-scale exterior work including project management & budget management, and health and safety.
Permissions safety and additional notes:
Shortlisted artists will receive full site briefs, health and safety induction, exact dimensions, and photographic surveys.
The project aims to create durable, accessible murals that celebrate Tullamore’s identity and attract local and visitor engagement.
Inclusion on the panel does not guarantee a commission. Offaly County Council reserve the right to not appoint artists to this panel.
Insurance:
Any external person or company working with Offaly County Council on a project must have insurance cover in place. If selected for a commission, the artist will need to have Public Liability Insurance in place up to a limit of €6.5 million. The insurance policy must indemnify Offaly County Council and Tullamore Tidy Towns. If employing another person / people, Employers Liability Insurance to a limit of €13 million is necessary (this will only be needed if the person working with you does not have an insurance policy of their own). These are standard insurance policies and several companies in Ireland provide them for artistic activities.
About Tullamore:
Tullamore and County Offaly share a rich, layered heritage shaped by waterways, industry, and distinctive peatland landscapes. Tullamore grew as a market and transport hub along the Grand Canal, its streets and civic buildings reflecting 18th and 19th Century expansion. The town’s distilling history connected local craft to wider trade networks nationally and internationally. Across Offaly, extensive bogs and peat extraction shaped both economy and identity, and many former industrial sites have been reclaimed as nature reserves, sculpture parks and interpretive trails that reveal industrial archaeology and biodiversity. Co. Offaly also contains important historic sites, monastic ruins and grand estates. Active local history and heritage groups preserve and celebrate community memory, often working with Offaly County Council through its Creative Communities programme, funded by Creative Ireland.
The natural heritage of Tullamore and the surrounding areas contain habitats that support a wide range of plants and animals. The Offaly County Council Biodiversity Action Plan highlights the importance of places such as the Grand Canal, Clara Bog and the Slieve Bloom foothills. It calls for the protection of native species and the restoration of damaged habitats. It also promotes stronger ecological corridors across the county. Local communities play an important role in caring for these natural spaces. The landscape around Tullamore continues to provide vital refuge for wildlife. The plan encourages ongoing action to safeguard this biodiversity for future generations.
Tullamore Tidy Towns
Tullamore Tidy Towns is a dedicated volunteer group that works throughout the year to improve the town’s appearance, biodiversity and community pride. Their efforts include planting, cleanups, pollinator projects and supporting local environmental initiatives. The group recently celebrated its eleventh gold medal at the national SuperValu Tidy Towns Awards, marking another strong performance at national level. They also placed third in Offaly in the most recent results. These achievements reflect the commitment of volunteers and the strong support they receive from the wider community.
Sources of further information on Tullamore history and heritage:
Offaly County Council Heritage Office https://www.offaly.ie/heritage Heritage policy, conservation initiatives, protected structures and community heritage projects across the county.
Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan (2025–2030) https://www.offaly.ie/biodiversity Offaly County Council’s strategy for protecting and enhancing biodiversity, including actions relevant to Tullamore’s natural heritage, ecological corridors and community led conservation.
Offaly County Library – Local Studies Service https://www.offaly.ie/libraries/local-studies A public resource containing historic newspapers, maps, photographs, manuscripts and reference materials relevant to Tullamore’s development.
Offaly Culture and Creativity Plan – Creative Ireland https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/resources/offaly-culture-and-creativity-strategy Offaly’s strategic vision for culture and creativity under the Creative Ireland Programme, outlining priorities, community engagement approaches and long-term cultural development goals.
Offaly History (Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society) https://www.offalyhistory.com A leading local resource offering research publications, archival material, exhibitions and expert historical commentary on Tullamore and the wider county.
Tullamore Town Centre Regeneration Framework
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) https://www.buildingsofireland.ie Offers detailed records and descriptions of significant buildings and structures in Tullamore.
Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre https://www.tullamoredew.com Presents heritage interpretation relating to the town’s industrial, social and economic history through the story of whiskey production.
Discover Ireland – Tullamore https://www.discoverireland.ie/tullamore Provides an overview of key heritage sites, cultural attractions and visitor information.
Grand Canal Greenway https://www.waterwaysireland.org Outlines the historical significance of the canal and its role in shaping Tullamore’s growth and identity.