MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Richland County Public Library and Mankind Murals, Inc. present a Mural Stories Writing Contest.
Richland County, Ohio has a rich tapestry of vibrant murals adorning its streets, each telling a unique story of our community’s history, culture, and aspirations.
We invite you to become a part of this living narrative by putting your creative writing skills to the test.
This community-based project will connect creative writers to murals across Mansfield, and create a collection of writings with a self-published book at the Library as well as linking the Mural Stories online.
Participants of all ages are encouraged to submit an original creative writing piece based on one of the many murals in and around Mansfield.
Contest entries will be judged in three age groups: youth, teens, and adults. The categories of writing submissions accepted include: fiction, poetry, memoir or autobiographical, monologue or short play, nonfiction, or essay.
Submissions for this contest are open from May 1 through June 15. A panel of judges will choose one winner in each category to receive a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card.
This pilot program includes 35 mural sites, featuring the work of over 50 artists.
The portal to access these mural sites is available online, alongside an informative map that details the Artists, Year, and Mural Sponsors, as well as photos of the public artworks.
Word limit recommendation for the contest is 1,000 words or less, or 2 pages single spaced. Poetry word limit recommended 200 words or less.
Creative Writing will be screened for appropriateness before being considered for publishing online or being made public.
Minor editing of submitted content may be necessary for readability.
An interactive follow-up event, Mural Stories, is planned for Saturday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m. in the MRCPL Main Library parking lot at the corner of Mulberry and W. Third Street in Downtown Mansfield.
This program will feature highlights from the contest, interactive storytelling, a scavenger hunt, and more.
For more information on how to participate in the Mural Stories Writing Contest, complete details, and to virtually visit mural locations and artwork, please visit mankindmurals.org/mural-stories or mrcpl.org/mural-stories.
Public Art Portal: https://rebrand.ly/MansfieldPublicArtPortal
Public Art Map: https://rebrand.ly/MidOhioMuralMap
