2026 Traffic Box Mural Project

About the City of Brighton's Traffic Box Mural Project

The City of Brighton invites artists to embark on an exciting endeavor—transforming traffic signal boxes into captivating public art installations across the community. These creatively wrapped boxes aim to enhance neighborhood identity, turn ordinary spaces into creative landmarks, and encourage engaging conversations within our community.

Six traffic signal boxes have been strategically selected for this project, ensuring a widespread and accessible showcase for the selected artworks.

Eligibility

• The call is open to individual artists, artist teams or community groups with a designated lead artist.
• Professional and non-professional artists, including emerging artists and students may apply. 
• Submissions will be divided into two categories for selection: 18 and older (adult) and 17 and under (youth). At least one traffic box will be exclusive to the youth category, however, more may be selected by the judging committee. 
• All artists must reside in Colorado. 
• City of Brighton employees are not eligible to apply.

Submission & Design Guidelines

• In the creation of designs, please carefully consider the sample template provided at the end of this section. Designs must conform to the shape of the included template. 
• Designs cannot include political or religious content; any breach of intellectual property; trademarks; images of illegal activity; advertisements; logos; signage; promotion of any business, organization, individual, or product; or involve the attachment of objects to the boxes.
• Designs must not defame or invade the rights of any person or people, living or dead. 
• Designs must be family-friendly and unique to the City of Brighton. 
• Submitted designs must illustrate original artwork and/or graphic design.
• Given the desire for high visibility from passing traffic, artists are strongly encouraged to consider submitting larger designs with vibrant colors. 
• Artwork can be created in any medium but, if selected, must be provided as high-resolution digital files suitable for large-format printing (PDF, TIFF, RAW, or Vector format preferred.)
• Artists may submit up to (3) designs for consideration.
• Resolution: 200 – 300 dpi
• Designs will also need to be submitted as a small JPG or PNG for jurying. 
• Selected artists should be prepared to coordinate with the City of Brighton to finalize the design.
• Template size (4 panels, continuous design): 59"H x 148"W 
• Designs should encompass all four sides of the traffic boxes, and make allowances for edges, corners, handles and other physical elements. See the diagram below for general traffic box design:

Project Schedule

Selection Process

• Six pieces of artwork will be selected. 
• Submissions will be divided into two categories for selection: 18 and older (adult) and 17 and under (youth). At least one traffic box will be exclusive to the youth category; however, more may be selected by the judging committee.
• City of Brighton staff will review all submissions for completeness and compliance with the submission requirements. 
• Artist designs will be selected based on the following criteria:
  • Artistic quality and vibrancy of submitted designs
  • Appropriateness of artwork in scale and imagery to be visually effective on public traffic control boxes
  • Ability to successfully translate original artwork to a digital file for a three-dimensional surface
  • Ability to relate to multiple types of viewers (pedestrians, motorists, cyclists)
  • Uniqueness of the design
• The subcommittee will select up to 15 pieces of art for public voting. 
• Public voting will take place for one week.

Selected Artist Information & Requirements 

• Each artist or artist team will receive a $500 honorarium for their design and the unlimited, licensed use of that design, regardless of how many artists contributed to the single design.  Fabrication and installation of wraps is not part of the artist’s work.
• Selected artists will be required to provide artwork in one of the following formats: PDF, TIFF, RAW, or Vector format (preferred). 
• Selected artists will be required to sign a contract, provide a W-9 and other contractual requirements and/or documentation.
• Artist’s name, photo, selected artwork, biographical information and other requested information may be featured on the City website, social media and other promotional materials. 
• Selected artwork will be on display for up to 2 years. 
• The artist’s or group’s name will be featured on the box.

Application Information 

• The application deadline is April 5, 2026. 
• Apply here
• The City of Brighton reserves the right to modify any aspect of this program at any time or request additional information from any or all participating artists, to reopen the call and/or to accept or reject, at any time prior to the execution of contracts, any or all design proposals. 

Installation & Other Information

• The final selected artwork will be printed on a vinyl wrap and installed directly on traffic boxes.
• The City will be responsible for coordinating printing, fabrication, and installation of the vinyl wraps.
• Wraps are intended to last 2-3 years in favorable conditions. 
• Printed artwork created for the traffic box project will be considered temporary artwork and the sole property of the City of Brighton. As such, the City retains the right and sole discretion to remove, modify, or replace the artwork. Situations in which the City may exercise this right include, but are not limited to, damage to the traffic box, vandalism, or the traffic box needs to be accessed by an authorized agency, organization or individual. 

Questions?

Please direct all questions to Public Art Coordinator Hannah Wold at hwold@brightonco.gov or 303-655-2176.