Officials of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) recently launched a call for artists to create a design for a mural for a crosswalk at a station in Decatur.

MARTA’s public art program, called Artbound, encourages local “artists and designers who demonstrate artistic ability through a compelling portfolio of previous work” to apply to design the crosswalk mural to be installed at Kensington Station, 3350 Kensington Road.

“This call for proposals will seek artist qualifications. Three artists will be shortlisted and will each receive $500 to create and provide design proposals,” officials explained. “The selected artist will receive a $5,000 fee for the final design. The mural will then be painted on the crosswalk by a third party contracted by MARTA.”

Officials also said the purpose of the project is to serve as a safe wayfinding solution for children travelling from Kensington Station to the nearby StationSoccer fields.

MARTA’s Kensington Station has been the focus of transit-oriented planning and development in Decatur for years. In 2022, the station was home to DeKalb County’s first SoccerStation, as a site for master planning inside and around the station was launched. Last year, officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the Kensington transit-oriented development project, which officials said will bring together affordable housing and development focused on easy access to public transit.

Applications for the Crosswalk Art Project are due by August 16. Interested applicants should visit https://marta.slideroom.com/#/login/program/79858.

One percent of MARTA’s annual budget is earmarked for the Artbound program, which was originally developed to enhance the passenger experience through visual and performing arts, officials said.

For more information, visit https://www.itsmarta.com/Kensington.aspx.