Taming murals in the city: a foray into mural policies, practices, and regulation

In recent decades, murals have become a common phenomenon in urban landscapes. They are markers of identity and can provide benefits to individuals, communities, and cities. Some murals are created sporadically, while others are carefully promoted by the establishment. Given the adoption (or co-optation) of murals as an acceptable, and even desired, municipal tool, local governments around the world have established their own mural policies. While many scholars accept murals as an important element in urban environments, the literature has somewhat neglected the policies and practices that administer them. This paper aims to fill this gap by facilitating a better understanding of mural policies and enabling future evaluations. To do so, we introduce a conceptual framework that assists in identifying, characterizing and evaluating mural policies. We then demonstrate the applicability of the conceptual framework through a case-example of Portland, Oregon.