Marin Shakespeare Company’s new Downtown Theater at 514 Fourth Street in San Rafael officially opened in September of 2023. Now, we are seeking to turn the  building itself into a work of art. 

Marin Shakespeare Company offers Shakespeare productions as well as a large variety  of theatrical productions, play readings, solo shows, new plays, personal story-telling,  music, dance, and poetry. We believe in theatre that explores provocative stories,  builds understanding and compassion, uplifts diverse artists, and helps to heal our  world. In addition to the Downtown Theater, we offer programs at the Forest Meadows  Amphitheatre, in local schools, and in California state prisons. Our motto is “Playing for  Good”. 

We will be repainting the building mid-June, and seek a mural artist who will be  available in the summer of 2026 to make the building itself as incredible as the work inside. 

We seek an innovative design from an artist thinking outside of the box.  

Inspirations: 

• Home: Welcoming, Nucleus.
  
• Community: Kaleidoscope, Mosaic, Prismatic, Connections, Intersections.
  
• Passion: Explore, Engage, Envision, Learn, Grow, Discover, Reflect, Incubate, Elevate,  Empower, Reverberate, Inspire, Creative Energy.
  
• Forward-thinking and Modern: NOT Elizabethan, NOT a collage of images. NOT a  Castle. Something that will excite and inspire for decades to come.
  
• Our logo colors.
  
• Wow!

Thinking outside the Box: 

• The artist will select the background color of the entire building.
  
• The mural should cover some of the front of the building, and some of the east side of  the building. 
  
• Consider how to treat the front columns and third-story arches.
  
• Consider color spreading across some of the glass windows.
  
• 3 dimensions could be used particularly in the spaces between the columns on the left  half of the building to give some depth to the design. 

Timeline: 

Because of the restrictions of some of the grant funding, we seek to select the artist no  later than May 31, 2026. We need to finalize the building color, which will be  the base for the design, by early June. 

Budget: 

The total budget for this project is $16,500 for time and materials, not including rental  of a lift for 3 weeks. The design fee is $1,500 which will include working with Marin  Shakespeare Company staff to refine the final design. The $15,000 is for the execution of the mural itself. We would consider expanding the budget for an  exceptional design. 

To apply: 

Please send your application by email no later than May 31, 2026 
to: lesley@marinshakespeare.org with “MURAL” in the subject line

Please include a sketch or sketches, as well as any notes that will help us understand  your vision. 

Please include a budget and any budget notes. 

Please indicate whether you are an individual artist or a business, and submit a completed W-9 form.

We are happy to meet with you onsite if needed; please contact us to set up an appointment.
Contact: Lesley Currier, lesley@marinshakespeare.org, 415-306-6181. 

Building Sketches and a sample that inspires us.
click for a full size downloadable version of each