Muralists wanted!

Seeking artists to complete two murals: one in Hartford, Iowa and one in New Virginia, Iowa. Artists are invited to submit a proposal/bid for one or both murals by June 25 at midnight.

Please review the details below for how to submit.

Call for Artists – New Virginia mural_2020_June

Call for Artists – Hartford downtown mural_2020

Note: If submitting bids for both projects, please submit each bid separately, as they will be reviewed and selected independently.

 

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Indianola Organization Directory Completed!

In an effort to support our local organizations and promote volunteerism, Indianola Hometown Pride has compiled an online directory of the non-profit organizations and clubs in Indianola. There are more than 70 organizations in our community – that’s about 1 for every 200 people!

Click here to see the directory.

Residents in the Indianola area are encouraged to browse the directory to find an organization where they’d like to volunteer or offer support.

We know that things in our community are always changing, so we welcome your suggestions for additions or corrections to the directory! Click here to contact us.

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Warren County Strong!

UPDATE: We are no longer taking new banners for this project. All available spaces have been filled. Thank you to all who participated!

We invite you take part in our effort to celebrate the communities and organizations of Warren County!

With all the worrisome news out there right now, we’d like to spread a bit of joy and show the strength of our communities by posting banners that feature the great towns and organizations in Warren County. All are invited to submit a proposal for a banner with a picture or artwork of something in our County that you want to celebrate: that could be a local landmark, festival, organization, park, a piece of history, etc. Banners will be hung on the Indianola square, on the fencing surrounding the Warren County Justice Center construction site. Banners will be printed on mesh banner material that allows wind to flow through, at a size of 48” high x 96” wide (4’x8’).

Here’s what you need to do to participate:

  1. Find a sponsor to cover the $75 cost of printing a banner (the sponsor can add their logo to the banner – a great publicity opportunity!)
  2. Fill out this short online form describing your idea for the banner:
    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YSQ9Z9W
    OR Click here for a printable proposal form

Indianola Hometown Pride will review the proposal, and if it fits the theme of the display, we will follow up with details about printing and timeline.

Refer to the photos on our facebook page for examples of banners that have already been approved and hung on the fence. 

Click here to read our full policy regarding approval, printing and hanging of the banners.

Thank you in advance for showing your pride in Warren County!

Please note: While it is our hope and intention that this display will last for this season and the next, we we can not make any guarantees for how long the banners will last or how long they will be displayed. The contractor has agreed to allow us to display on the fencing throughout the construction phase, and the banner material is meant for long-term outdoor use, but unknown factors such as weather, vandalism, accidental damage, or unexpected construction changes could impact the longevity of the banner display. 

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County Veterans Memorial and Carlisle Playground Complete!

Hometown Pride and its partners unveiled two newly-constructed community amenities this summer, representing over $70,000 of investment into our local quality of life. The Warren County Veterans’ Memorial was dedicated in August at Warrior Run Golf Course in Norwalk, and a new playground was installed in Carlisle’s South Lindhardt Park in July.

Playground

The new playground in Carlisle was first conceived by Carlisle Hometown Pride in spring of 2018. Over the next year, Hometown Pride raised more than $30,000 to install a full playground with slides, a swing, and climbing areas. The first piece of the playground, a saucer swing, was installed in December 2018, and the rest was installed in July 2019. Contributors include:

  • Carlisle Hometown Pride, which led the planning and provided around $4,000 from fundraisers (t-shirt sales, block party, etc.)
  • Warren County Philanthropic Partnership (~$9,000 over 2 years)
  • Hubbell Realty Company ($10,000)
  • Carlisle Little League and Carlisle Girls Softball Association ($4,000)
  • Carlisle Friends of the Parks committee ($4,000)
  • $200 each from Greater Carlisle Community Foundation and Carlisle Chamber of Commerce Grant
  • The City of Carlisle has agreed to provide on-going maintenance for the playground.

Veterans’ Memorial

The Veterans’ Memorial is the result of about a year of work by dozens of supporting organizations and individuals from around the region. It started with the arrival of the Freedom Rock, which prompted planning to create a memorial around the rock which would honor Veterans from all branches of the armed forces. Planning and fund-raising efforts were spear-headed by Norwalk Hometown Pride, Norwalk Rotary, and Warrior Run Golf Course. Financial and in-kind contributors include:

Congratulations to all the volunteers who worked incredibly hard to make these two projects happen!!!

Photo Aug 22, 9 28 35 AM.jpg

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Music Fest attracts 2,000, raises $17,000!

The 2nd annual Norwalk Music Fest, hosted by Norwalk Hometown Pride, was a great success! The 12-hour festival at Warrior Run Golf Course showcased 14 Norwalk-based bands and attracted 2,000 people. Admission was free, yet the event raised an impressive $17,000 through a combination of sponsorships and sales at the event (raffle tickets, merchandise, etc). Proceeds will support future Norwalk Hometown Pride projects. The event also featured food and drink, kids games, and local vendors.

Many individuals and organizations contributed to the success of this event, including Norwalk Hometown Pride and its Music Fest committee, the City of Norwalk, the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, Warrior Run Golf Course, City State Bank, Dilligent Development, Michael Foods, and more than a dozen other sponsors. Click here for more information about Music Fest.

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$90,000 raised for our communities

Group posing with a grant check

Hometown Pride projects in Warren County have received more than $90,000 in grants and other large contributions so far this year. The projects include:

  • Warren County Veteran’s Memorial in Norwalk has raised approximately $43,000, including:
    • $10,000 – Warren County Philanthropic Partnership (WCPP) High Impact Grant
    • $8,000 raised by the Warren County Leadership Institute Class of 2019
    • $5,000 – City of Norwalk (pledged)
    • $5,000 – Warren County (pledged)
    • $1,500 – City of Cumming
    • $2,500 – Give Foundation
    • $2,500 – Burke Golf Academy
    • $500 – West Des Moines VFW
    • $8,000 – Golf Outing and Individual Contributors
    • This project is a partnership of Norwalk Hometown Pride, Warren County Hometown Pride, the Norwalk Rotary Club and Warrior Run Golf Course
  • New Playground at South Lindhardt Park in Carlisle has raised more than $23,000 due to the efforts of Carlisle Hometown Pride and our partners, including:
    • $5,000 grant from Warren County Philanthropic Partnership
    • $10,000 from Hubbell Realty Company
    • $4,000 from Carlisle Little League and Carlisle Girls Softball Association
    • $4,000 pledged from Carlisle Friends of the Parks committee
    • $200 grant from Greater Carlisle Community Foundation
    • $200 from Carlisle Chamber of Commerce Grant
  • Milo Hometown Pride secured $15,000 in grants to assist the City with the Centennial Park restroom renovation.
    • $5,000 grant from Warren County Philanthropic Partnership
    • $10,000 from Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant
  • $1,120 for mobile community gardens by Carlisle Hometown Pride, funded by a grant from the United Way of Central Iowa
  • $4,875 grant from Warren County Philanthropic Partnership for artistic bike racks in Norwalk, applied for by the City of Norwalk with support from Norwalk Hometown Pride
  • Free paint from Paint Iowa Beautiful grant for a mural in Norwalk, Main Street painting in Milo, and City Hall painting in Carlisle.
  • $225 for tourism banners from Warren County Tourism Grant, a partnership of City of Cumming, Cumming Hometown Pride and the Hometown Pride-led tourism committee
  • $2,500 for trail-to-downtown connection from Warren County Tourism Grant, partnership of Carlisle Chamber of Commerce and Carlisle Hometown Pride
  • $2,000 from 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count, to purchase the Wagon O’Fun: a wagon full of games and toys for all our Hometown Pride committees to use at their community events.

Did we miss anything? Let us know: Contact

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How to Create a Mural for Your Community

Volunteers painting a public art mural

Murals are a popular form of public art for communities across the country, due in part to their versatility and high visibility. Below are a few things you will want to consider when planning a mural for your town. (This article will help get you started, but for a more detailed look into creating a mural, we highly recommend this webinar from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1RdBALtlpU&feature=youtu.be&list=PLE3r5-AUJI-qegyyhBshSUVmWQGOrEDb1)

 Picking a location

  • Visibility
    • Is the mural in a location where it will be easily seen and enjoyed by many?
  • Surface suitability
    • Make sure the surface of the wall is stable – not crumbling or decaying.
    • Identify areas you will need to work around, such as windows or other features.
  • Historic considerations
    • If working on a historic building, you’ll likely need to avoid the façade, but a side wall may be suitable.
  • Property owner support
    • Not only permission, but enthusiasm is best.
  • “Off-the-wall” murals
    • Murals can also be painted on the ground on sidewalks, plazas or stairs.

 

Getting permission and community support

  • Check with the City to see if there are any city codes or governing bodies that provide direction on mural locations, size, or other factors. You may need to seek permission from the art commission (if one exists) or get a permit.
  • Most towns have ordinances that would prohibit a mural that would be construed as a commercial sign or “advertising.”
  • Reach out to community members and nearby property owners to get their input and support of the location and design.

 

Choosing an artist

  • Local artists
    • Opportunity to “buy local” and celebrate the talent in your own community
  • High school art students (under guidance of a teacher)
    • Lower cost (or free), but more variability in quality
  • Hiring well-known/national artists
    • Higher cost, but greater notoriety
  • Collaborative: Created by members of community under direction of an artist
    • Great community-building activity, but less control over quality

 

Mural Content

What theme will your mural portray and what style of art will it be? Will it be an abstract piece? A symbol of community togetherness? A historic scene or a tribute to the past? A representation of the town’s brand or identity? Consider your goals for creating the mural and what impression you want to give to residents and visitors in your town. There’s no wrong answer – but the mural content will likely influence your choice of location, artist and technique.

 

Techniques

While many murals are painted directly on the wall, there are a number of other techniques that offer differences in cost, longevity and technical difficulty. For example, some murals are done on panels with paint or photo-transfer, and then attached to the wall. Your selected artist should be able to advise on technique.

 

How much paint?

One of the most common questions about murals is: how many gallons of paint will I need? It is hard to give an exact answer, since it depends on the size of the mural, the surface (will it need multiple coats? primer? sealant?), and the number of colors used. A small mural could be painted for as little as 3-4 gallons of paint, while a larger mural might take 30 gallons or more. Work with your artist to determine the details and make an accurate estimate.

 

Funding

How much does it cost?

Costs can be as little as the cost of a few gallons of paint, up to $40,000 or more, depending on who is painting it and how big it is.

The biggest factor in cost is your selection of artist. Experienced muralists charge a premium for their knowledge and artistry, and are often worth every penny. However, students or volunteers may be able to offer their services for free or very low cost. What you choose depends on your goals for the mural. While a mural by volunteers will not be as polished as a professionally done mural, it can be just as endearing to the community.

Another big cost to plan for is the cost of renting scaffolding or a lift so the artist can reach areas above ground level. Renting scaffolding and scissor lifts can cost several hundred dollars, while boom lift rentals are typically more than $1,000.

Here are some examples of costs of murals in Hometown Pride communities:

Hamburg IA:

  • 2 murals at $17/sq foot. 14’x32’ mural for $7,600. 12’x15’ mural for $3,000
    • Painted on concrete stucco on the side of brick walls.
    • Committee primed surface.
    • Artist hand-painted mural.

New Virginia IA

  • 80’x20′ mural on brick wall for $4250. 40’x20′ mural on brick wall for $3,000
    • Primed and painted by artists.
    • Fee included supplies
    • Scaffolding was lent by a committee member for one mural, to keep costs down.

Tabor IA:

  • $1,925 for 10’x40’ mural
    • Photo-transfer onto mounted metal panels.
    • Artist donated his labor.
    • Expect to last 15 years.

Pocahontas County IA:

  • 5 murals painted by art students or community artists at no cost.
  • Received paint from Paint Iowa Beautiful grant.

Clinton IA:

  • 2 murals done for $5-$7,000 each

Norwalk IA

  • Mural done for free by high school art students and their teacher, with paint from the Paint Iowa Beautiful grant.

Where do I get funding?

  • Grants from private foundations or State agencies
  • Local fundraising – go to individuals and businesses in your community who support the arts. Talk to businesses that are nearby the proposed mural to see if they will sponsor. Or hold a fundraiser (40 fundraiser ideas for your community)
  • City budget – some communities have an annual budget for public art. That is typically managed by a public art commission.
  • In-kind donations of paint and labor
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How to keep volunteers around – Top 10 Tips

How to Boost Volunteer Retention When YOU Are A Volunteer Too

Tips for Hometown Pride Committees, or any Volunteer-Based Community Organization

Hometown Pride runs on volunteers! We have 75 volunteers working in our 7 communities. We all put in a lot of hard work, and it’s important that we help each other stay motivated, so that we can keep all these great volunteers around for the long haul. Here are the 10 main ways we support each other – make sure you read the last one!

  1. Thank you, Way to go, We couldn’t do it without you! Offering words of encouragement is one of the simplest ways to support each other. Make sure people know that you’ve noticed their hard work. You don’t have to go over-the-top (some people get embarrassed by TOO much praise), but a simple “thank you” goes a long way.
  2. Help Uncover Hidden Talents. Take some time to get to know more about each other so you can find out what strengths each person brings to the table. Are they an avid gardener? Put them in charge of landscaping during a clean-up day. Are they a sales pro? Maybe they can apply that to committee fundraising.
  3. Let everyone take charge of something. Make sure everyone has something they can take ownership of for the group. If someone feels indispensable, they will keep showing up even when life gets busy. Take a look at the agenda of a typical meeting – if you were to put a name or two by each item, how many different people would be represented? If someone looks at the agenda and sees an item with their name next to it, they’re more likely to show up prepared! It’s best if people choose what they are in charge of, rather than someone assigning it to them, so pay attention to what they are passionate about and help them find a way to incorporate that into what the group is doing.
  4. Respect the value of their time. We should always be thoughtful about the work that we assign to our fellow committee members, to make sure it is necessary and will be put to good use. It may help to know that the value of an hour of volunteer time is estimated to be about $23. Before we ask someone to take on a new task, take a minute to reflect: would I pay someone $23 an hour to do this? If not, maybe it’s not worth their time!
  5. Remind them how important their work is. Take a moment now and then to remember WHY we are doing what we do. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just making a simple observation about the value of a recent accomplishment can help. For example: “I’m so glad we threw that event. It really seemed to bring the town together!” Or, “The kids will love this new playground, and I bet it will help bring new families to town too!”
  6. Provide the Right Resources. Is someone struggling to complete their assigned task? Maybe they don’t have the right resources. Do they need help connecting to the right person, finding funding options, or getting advice from someone who has done this before? Who can help direct them?
  7. Make new people feel welcome. Take time to welcome new people during the meeting. Check in one-on-one afterward to get them up to speed and answer questions. Check in often the first few months.
  8. Stay in Touch. For volunteers who are just pitching in once or twice a year, find a way to keep in touch, perhaps through social media, e-mail updates, a thank you note, etc.
  9. Make friends! When members of a group like each other, they’ll be more likely to stick around. Get to know each other, either by hosting a social event, opening a meeting with an ice-breaker question, or simply making small talk before the meeting. Hold an occasional meeting in an informal location, such as a restaurant (or bring food to the regular meeting location), to help people feel more at ease with each other.
  10. MOST IMPORANTLY, Do Great Work. This may seem too obvious, but the best way to retain volunteers is to focus your energy on valuable, inspiring projects that further your mission. Easier said than done, right?! But if you find your volunteers aren’t engaged, it’s possible that you are chasing the wrong ideas. Take a step back and consider the following: the purpose of the group, the passions/strengths of the members, the needs of the community. Is your work in line with all that? If not, it may be time to rethink and redirect your efforts.

— Tips compiled by Warren County Hometown Pride Coach, Lorin Ditzler and inspired by our awesome volunteers!  

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We’re in the News!

Did you see the article about Hometown Pride in the Record-Herald and on DesMoinesRegister.com? It reviews the first year of progress for our 7 Hometown Pride communities in Warren County, and our plans for 2019.

Click to read: Hometown Pride looks to grow Warren County efforts in 2019

A few snippets from the article:

  • “Hometown Pride has far exceeded my expectations of what I thought we could accomplish…”
  • “These kinds of community betterment programs are a critical part of economic development…”
  • “The grassroots community improvement program has already accomplished a lot, but there’s more to come…”
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