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Artists Invited to Bid for £17,000 Public Art Commission in Scarborough

Saturday, 8 August 2026 18:30

By Anttoni James Numminen, Local Democracy Reporter

North Yorkshire Council is offering a £17,500 commission for an artist to create a landmark mural in Scarborough as part of the town's 400th-anniversary celebrations.

Artists in North Yorkshire could earn almost £20,000 for designing a new mural in Scarborough.

An opportunity to transform a town centre facade into a vibrant piece of public art comes with a £17,500 commission for the right artist or creative in North Yorkshire.

The creation of a landmark mural at McBean Apartments on St Nicholas Cliff in Scarborough is being commissioned by North Yorkshire Council (NYC) as part of the town’s Scarborough 400 celebrations.

The authority said:

“Artists are invited to develop an original design that responds creatively to the Scarborough 400 theme while reflecting Scarborough’s history, character and sense of place.”

Last month, dozens of artists and residents in Scarborough said they were “deeply disappointed” by the council’s decision to use artificial intelligence (AI) to create the designs on a Giant Deckchair Trail aimed at promoting and celebrating 400 years of England’s original seaside resort.

The 10 deckchairs are dotted across the seafront, heritage spots, and attractions as part of a walking trail. Each chair aims to shine a spotlight on a different moment from Scarborough’s remarkable past and is accompanied by a sign with a QR code for more information.

NYC said it commissioned the work from an agency in the county which “used AI alongside the skills, experience and creativity of its team”.

The new mural commission presents an opportunity to create a “highly visible public artwork in a key location overlooking St Nicholas Cliff and close to Scarborough’s seafront”.

The council said that the successful proposal would contribute to wider improvements taking place across the town centre and become part of Scarborough’s cultural landscape.

While applications can be submitted by artists across the UK, the authority is particularly keen to hear from artists who are based in, work in, or have connections to the North Yorkshire coast.

The deadline for submission is Sunday 16 August and should be sent to Regeneration.North-East@northyorks.gov.uk with the subject line ‘McBean apartments mural submission’.

Further details can be found on the Sprucing up Scarborough section of North Yorkshire Council’s website.

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