Paint It Up! is a youth engagement program funded by Public Works and administered by Community and Social Services (CSS). It promotes the use of outdoor murals to:
- support local arts and culture;
- enhance the city’s beauty for residents and visitors; and
- engage youth in positive skill-building experiences.
Annual funding is available through Community Safety and Well-Being, Policy, and Analytics within CSS for local organizations wanting to hire youth to create murals in neighbourhoods experiencing a high rate of tagging and vandalism.
Before you begin
Before you begin
Key program dates*:
- January 13, 2025: Funding application opens
- February 4, 2025 (3:00-4:00pm): Information Session (virtual)
- February 6, 2025 (7:30-8:30pm): Information Session (virtual)
- March 3, 2025 (by 5:00pm): Deadline to submit proposed mural location via Mural application form for approval
- April 4, 2025: Deadline to submit funding application
- May 1, 2025: Applicants are advised if application is successful
- May 5 - July 15, 2025: Deadline to submit final mural designs to muraleottawamural@ottawa.ca for approval and obtain the required permit
- September 29, 2025: Deadline to complete and install murals
- November 10, 2025: Deadline to submit Activity reports
*Note: Dates are subject to change at the discretion of the City of Ottawa.
Eligibility
Eligibility
Please consult the 2025 Paint It Up! Funding Program Process Guidelines for program eligibility criteria.
What you need
What you need
Location approval
- Mural application form
- Before submitting an application for Paint it Up! funding, applicants must apply for location approval through the City’s By-law and Regulatory Services online form on ottawa.ca/mural by March 3, 2025 (5:00pm).
- Property Authorization form, if the location is on private property.
Please note: If the location is on a City of Ottawa facility, staff responsible for the facility will need to provide their consent for the mural location. By-Law and Regulatory Services will seek this consent on behalf of the applicant.
Paint It Up! Application form
- Contact Community Safety and Well-Being at cswb/sbec@ottawa.ca to request an application and budget form.
Mandatory documentation
- Proof of incorporation and years in existence of primary applicant*
- Latest financial statement of primary applicant (unaudited statements will be accepted)
- Proof of insurance for the primary applicant*
- Letter(s) confirming the participation of partners
- Proof of a problem with tagging (should include pictures of tags and their location in relation to the intended mural)
- Proof of approval of mural location
*Not required for organizations currently in receipt of City of Ottawa Sustainability Funding
Apply
Apply
Submit your completed Paint It Up! Application, budget form and mandatory documentation by April 4, 2025 to Community Safety and Well-Being at cswb/sbec@ottawa.ca.
Next steps
Next steps
All eligible applications will be assessed through an Allocation Committee process. The Allocation Committee members will review all proposals and score them in relation to the evaluation criteria.
All organizations that receive Paint It Up! Grant funding are required to submit the final youth mural design to: muraleottawamural@ottawa.ca between May 5, 2025, and July 15, 2025, to receive design approval and a permit to install the mural.
Contact us
Contact us
For more information on the Paint It Up! funding process, please contact Ahmad Luqman at Ahmad.Luqman@ottawa.ca.