Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center Mural

The Reno Arts & Culture Commission (RACC) and Public Art Committee (PAC) are looking to create a large-scale mural on the western exterior of the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center. This project will add vibrancy to the building and surrounding area and reflect the character of the neighborhood.

Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center (EMNECC) is located in Northeast Reno off of Valley Road north of I-80. EMNECC has a year-round pool, fitness center, gymnasium, teen room, and meeting rooms. Additionally, EMNECC is located directly next to Dick Taylor Memorial Park that has baseball/softball, basketball court, soccer/football, tennis court, as well as picnic shelter with barbecues and tables. EMNECC serves a diverse population and is one of the main recreation centers that offers programming operated by the City of Reno.  

The mural will be painted on two exterior western walls of the community center. They are separated by a shorter section of wall that is not part of the call. Approximate square footage to be painted is around 2,600 square feet, around 1400 square feet for the northwest wall and 1,200 on the southeast wall. 

Part of this project includes a community engagement component. Selected artist(s) will be expected to work with City staff to conduct community engagement sessions with users of the building and the surrounding neighborhood. The final design of the mural will be created from input from these sessions. 

Community Engagement 

Fabric of the Neighborhood 

Evelyn Mount Community Center Mural Event with Artist Erik Burke 

Evelyn Mount Community Center

Friday, November 22nd from 2:30 to 5:30pm

Reno artist and owner of OU Public Works, Erik Burke, wants the chance to incorporate the community into the new mural currently being installed at the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center. Half of the mural is complete with portraits from the community and samples of sentimental fabrics.

The artist is hosting a second workshop at the Evelyn Mount Community Center on Friday, November 22^nd from 2:30p to 5:30pm to collect more fabric samples and portraits to be included in the mural.

Participate Online: Can't make it to the in person event but still want to participate? You can send a picture of your fabric or pattern and share the story behind it with artist Erik Burke to have it included in the mural.

Email: PublicArt@Reno.gov or send a direct message via Instagram: @oupublicworks 

Artist Selection

On June 12, 2024, City of Reno Councilmembers approved the recommendations from the Reno Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) and the Public Art Committee (PAC) to select Erik Burke to create the mural for the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center.  

Submissions for the Request for Qualifications closed May 1, 2024. Prospective artists were required to live in the northern Nevada and northern California regions, provide their CV/resume, example images, and a letter of intent to address the following: professional artistic accomplishments, list of relevant past projects, references from previous public art projects, and a letter addressing how the applicant’s previous experience and current artistic direction will result in a successful public art project for this space, including information on how they would approach this project, particularly the community engagement portion. The PAC, with input from stakeholders, and RACC selected the artist/artist team from 23 highly competitive applications for the commission.