Councilwoman Ann O'Brien's Announces Youth Art Contest to Celebrate Cholla Library and Community Pride

PHOENIX – Councilwoman Ann O’Brien is inviting young artists to participate in a mural design competition for Cholla Library, located near Interstate 17 and Peoria Avenue.

The competition comes as Cholla Library approaches its 50th anniversary in May 2027, and as the surrounding area enters a new chapter with the development of The Metropolitan. The $1 billion project at the former Metrocenter Mall site will bring new housing, retail, restaurants and public green spaces. The mural, designed by a student in the Cholla Library service area, will offer another way to invest in the community while celebrating the people who call the area home.

“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 project. The selected student’s design will be transformed into a large-scale exterior mural inspired by the Sonoran Desert and neighborhood pride.

“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.”

Students in grades 7–12 who live within the Cholla Library service area are eligible to participate. The winning design will be selected through a public vote following an initial review by a committee that includes art teachers, District 1 representatives and a Cholla librarian.

“Cholla Library has served generations of families, and this mural is an opportunity for today’s students to become part of its story,” said Erin MacFarlane, Phoenix Public Library Director “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.”

The deadline to submit artwork is December 11, 2026, at 5 p.m. Designs should reflect the desert environment and neighborhood pride. Entries must be original student artwork; political content, depictions of people and AI-generated imagery are not permitted. Get more information, including how to submit artwork at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/chollamural For questions about the competition, contact the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture at arts.culture@phoenix.gov.