OneMarysville
Photos Courtesy of OneMarysville
Marysville is about to get a little nuttier, and that is saying something for a town that has been Black Squirrel City since 1972. OneMarysville is accepting submissions from artists for the next round of Black Squirrels on Parade, a public art project featuring five-foot-tall fiberglass black squirrels painted and embellished by artists.
Marysville already has 51 squirrels in the parade, and eight more will be added in October 2026. The squirrels are installed throughout Marysville as a public art “parade” people can find, photograph and enjoy year-round. Each statue is purchased and sponsored by local businesses, organizations and individuals.
This call for artists is for the eight new squirrels that will join the parade this fall. The call is open to artists of all experience levels, from acclaimed to amateur. Painters, sculptors, multimedia artists and other creative minds are encouraged to apply.
“We’re excited to see Black Squirrels on Parade keep growing, because the interest just keeps growing, too,” said Mandy Cook, president of OneMarysville. “People love celebrating our mascot, and it’s been fun to see sponsors and artists jump in and make each squirrel their own.”
Selected artists will receive a $750 honorarium for each approved design and completed statue. One half of the honorarium, $375, will be paid when the design is accepted to help cover materials, with the remaining $375 paid upon completion and approval of the finished squirrel.
Artists may decorate the squirrel in any manner, as long as the design is durable, weather-resistant and safe for public display. A portion of each squirrel must remain black to reflect Marysville’s Black Squirrel City identity. Photographs are not allowed because they do not withstand weather conditions.
Final design submissions are due by 5 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2026. Artists will be notified by Friday, April 17, 2026, if their design has been selected. Blank squirrels will be ready for delivery in May 2026. Selected artists will take the blank squirrel to their own workspace, complete the design, then coordinate drop-off or pickup of the finished statue by the deadline. Completed squirrels must be ready for pickup by Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. The public exhibition will take place Oct. 24, 2026.
“No two squirrels are alike, and that’s the best part,” Cook said. “Artists take the same blank statue and come back with something completely different every time, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with for this next round.”
To apply, artists must complete a design submission form and submit a colored design using the official squirrel drawing template. This is a design-first process. Artists submit their concept using the template, then selected artists complete the full statue. Artists under age 18 may submit designs with parent or guardian consent.
For more information about the call for artists and submission process, contact Wayne Kruse at wayne@onemarysville.com or 785-562-3101.
More information is available at onemarysville.com.
