Clackamas County is on the prowl for local talent to spruce up its soon-to-open Courthouse with some homegrown art. The Clackamas County Arts Alliance, in league with the county’s Courthouse Arts Committee, is putting out the call for Oregon artists, giving a nod specifically to those residing in Clackamas County, to throw their hats into the ring for a chance to adorn the interior walls of the new civic building.

The lucky artists will have their work splashed across acoustic panels on the first and second floors for all to see—giving the public space a much-needed aesthetic uplift. "We are very excited for this opportunity to showcase large-scale works of art by local artists visible to the public from the plaza level of the new courthouse—anyone walking by or walking into the courthouse will see and be impacted by these upcoming art installations," said Clackamas County Operating Officer Nancy Bush, in a statement obtained by Clackamas County News.

This creative initiative isn't just for show; it's also throwing a bone to the creative folks with a $5,000 commission up for grabs. That's right, the chosen artist or team gets a chunk of change to beautify the courthouse with their unique murals or photography. The funding for the project is already in the kitty, sourced from the pool set aside for this arty endeavor.

Time's ticking, though, as the submission deadline for proposals is set at 11:59 p.m. May 1. That's not a lot of time for the artists to get their creative juices flowing and their proposals pitched. According to details released, only one artist or artist team will get the chance to make their mark on this new chapter of Clackamas County history, with their finished pieces expected to echo through the halls of justice come 2025.