FAQs / Open Call - 2026 MAHAL Mural
2026 — MAHAL MURAL | FAQs
Q: Does this project require artists to be Filipino?
A: No. You or your team do not need to be of Filipino descent to be eligible. The mural, however, must incorporate at least 10 visual elements representing Filipino culture — such as colors of the Philippine flag, the sun and stars, local cultural landmarks, people, flora, or fauna.
Q: Do I have to be from the San Francisco Bay Area to apply?
A: Yes, applicants must reside in one of the following SF Bay Area counties:
Alameda County (East Bay: Oakland, Fremont, Hayward)
Contra Costa County (East Bay: Concord, Richmond, Walnut Creek)
Marin County (North Bay: San Rafael, Novato, Sausalito)
Napa County (North Bay: Napa)
San Francisco County (City & County of San Francisco)
San Mateo County (The Peninsula: Daly City, Redwood City)
Santa Clara County (South Bay/Silicon Valley: San Jose, Sunnyvale)
Solano County (North Bay: Vallejo, Fairfield)
Sonoma County (North Bay: Santa Rosa)
Q: How long do I have to complete the mural?
A: Artists will have approximately 4 weeks to complete their mural. Due to safety constraints of the area, both murals will be created concurrently. Weather permitting, the 3rd mural will begin production a few months after the first two are completed.
Q: What are the dimensions of each mural?
A: Each mural area is approximately 25'H x 22'W.
Q: Are artists responsible for purchasing materials and supplies?
A: Yes. The budget for materials and supplies comes out of the $18,500 artist award. Kultivate Labs will separately provide lifts and cover the cost of insurance — these are not deducted from the artist award.
Q: Do artists have to use a lift, or is scaffolding an option?
A: Applying artists must have previous experience operating a boom lift. Smaller portable scaffolding may be used as a supplement, but semi-permanent scaffolding cannot be left on-site due to safety concerns. Lifts must be stored off-site at the end of each painting day.
Q: I see 3 mural spaces. Who is painting the 3rd mural?
A: The 3rd mural will be produced by Kultivate Labs and 1AM Projects, a local mural organization headquartered in SoMa.
Q: How are the 2 final artists chosen?
A: There is a 2-step selection process. After the application deadline, a panel of jurors — made up of community members, local artists, and representatives from nearby businesses — will review all submissions and shortlist 6 artists based on their portfolios and application responses. Those 6 artists will each receive $1,000 to develop a high-fidelity rendering of their proposed mural. Final selection is based on a 50/50 split: 50% community vote, 50% jury vote. The 2 artists with the highest overall scores will be selected, subject to final approval by SFAC.
Q: How long will the murals be up?
A: The murals will remain up indefinitely, unless the property owner decides otherwise.
Q: I have applied for or won a Balay Kreative grant in the past. Can I still apply?
A: Yes