PHOENIX — Councilwoman Ann O’Brien is inviting students in grades 7–12 to help shape the future of Cholla Library through a mural design competition celebrating the Sonoran Desert and neighborhood pride.
The winning student’s artwork will become a large-scale exterior mural at the library near Interstate 17 and Peoria Avenue. Students who live within the Cholla Library service area are eligible to enter, with submissions due December 11, 2026, at 5 p.m.
The project comes as Cholla Library prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in May 2027. It also coincides with redevelopment at the former Metrocenter Mall site, where the $1 billion Metropolitan project is planned to bring housing, retail, restaurants, and public green spaces.
“Cholla Library has a special place in my heart because it was my childhood library,” O’Brien said. “As we look ahead to the library’s 50th anniversary and the revitalization happening all around it, I want our young people to see their creativity celebrated. Investing in our community means investing in the places and people that make it special.”
O’Brien is partnering with the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and Phoenix Public Library on the mural project. Residents will also have an opportunity to help paint the selected design.
“Public art has the power to shape how people experience and connect with the places they share,” said Phillip Dunlap, director of the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. “By elevating a young artist’s vision and inviting residents to help paint the mural, we’re demonstrating how collaboration can transform an individual idea into something the entire community can take pride in.”
A committee that includes art teachers, District 1 representatives, and a Cholla librarian will conduct an initial review of submissions. The winning design will then be selected through a public vote.
“Cholla Library has served generations of families, and this mural is an opportunity for today’s students to become part of its story,” said Phoenix Public Library Director Erin MacFarlane.
“Through this mural contest, we are empowering young people to leave a lasting mark on our community. Their artwork reflects the diversity, imagination, and optimism of the next generation, and we are proud to provide a space where those talents can shine.”
Entries must be original student artwork reflecting the desert environment and neighborhood pride. Political content, depictions of people, and AI-generated imagery are prohibited.
Students and families can find submission instructions and additional competition information at surveymonkey.com/r/chollamural. Questions can be directed to the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture at arts.culture@phoenix.gov.
Source: City of Phoenix.
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