Helena seeks artists for new Memorial Park Bandshell mural

Memorial Park’s bandshell, one of Helena’s most familiar public backdrops, is headed for repairs and a new mural that will help define what families, concertgoers and park users see there this season. The City of Helena is seeking artists to paint the inside of the bandshell, along the arch framework and wings, with a design meant to feel welcoming while also fitting a place tied closely to memory and service.

The selected artist or team will receive $12,000 to cover design, supplies, preparation, installation and sealing. Applications are due by 8 a.m. MST on June 15, 2026, and the city expects installation to run from August through October 2026, with completion required by October 31. Before any paint goes up, the city plans to repair, sand and clean the surface.

The new mural will replace the current artwork, which dates to 2011. The bandshell itself has carried multiple looks over the years, including earlier versions painted in 1984, 1993 and 1997. City officials also want the next design to help minimize graffiti and vandalism, and they prefer lighter colors on the lower inside portion to improve lighting during performances. The outer rings may remain in a red, white and blue scheme, though artists may propose a different palette if it strengthens the concept.

What makes the project especially visible is its setting. Memorial Park is where Helena stages summer kids’ camps, dance performances, picnics, the annual school carnival and weekly Capitol band performances, and it also frames the Lewis & Clark Veterans Memorial. The city says the park was named to honor fallen warriors, so the mural is being asked to do more than add color. It must also reflect the park’s meaning, including respect for veterans and the contributions of Montanans to the country.

That memorial carries its own weight. First dedicated on August 15, 1949, it now honors 105 Lewis and Clark County residents killed in military action, including 75 from World War II, 12 from the Korean War, 13 from the Vietnam War and 5 from the Global War on Terrorism. City records say the memorial was established in 1944, and the Lewis & Clark County Veterans Memorial Foundation was formed in 2005 to help keep it in good condition.

Bridget Johnston, the city’s facilities manager and project contact, has said the goal is artwork that feels uplifting while still acknowledging the park’s history and meaning. For Helena, the decision is now public and visible: what image should represent Memorial Park, and by extension the city, for the next chapter of concerts, ceremonies and summer gatherings.