The Moon Ditch Mural Project
Call for artists and community groups to learn more about this exciting community driven public art project.
View presentation from 12/5/25 Artist Briefing Meeting here.
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Application Form
Below are the questions that you must answer to complete your application. Please copy the questions into a word processing application and draft your responses carefully. Please then copy and paste your answer into the form. Note that this should be done in one session as saving and returning later is not possible.
Vision
For use to describe the proposal to the panel
Text box, 1000 max characters
Description of Design / Themes of the Work
Describe how your mural reflects the themes of the project. Namely community connections with the environment and specifically the importance of clean waterways, community well being and mental health.
Text box, 2500 max characters
Upload a sketch of the design
(to include an overall design concept, two details sketches)
File upload Max. file size: 512 MB, Max. files: 3.
Upload example of completed other works
(must be completed artworks, to include close-up of work and wide angle of work on location). Minimum of 6 images of at least two different works.
File upload Max. file size: 512 MB.
Description of Safe System of Work
(how you plan on completing the mural – actions taken to address identified risks and ensure community safety within the work environment)
File upload Max. file size: 512 MB.
Community Engagement
Describe the opportunities for community members to get involved in the design and delivery of your mural
Text box
Timeline for completion
Identify miles stones and duration of work required to complete each element, also note the time when community engagement would be required.
Text box, 2,500 max characters
Team Members
Describe the number of people required to complete your design, identify any key personnel and describe their experience
Text box
Experience working as a Mentor
Particularly experience of working with system engaged youth
Text box, 1,500 max characters
References
Two references for completed public art commissions
Text box
Application Scoring
The weighting of answers reflects the priorities of the project sponsors
| Heading | Scoring |
|---|---|
| Vision | 10% |
| Description of Design / Themes of the Work | 20% |
| Community Engagement | 50% |
| Time-Line & Materials | 20% |
The Moon Ditch project will take place in an active drainage channel, and work is subject to state and federal restrictions. The Ventura County Public Works team will assist the successful applicant to work within these restrictions and provide support to select the most appropriate paints and other work materials.
Below are the State Guidelines that all applicants must comply with:
- Do not work when flowing or ponded water is present at the site.
- Activities should be restricted to periods of low rainfall (less than ¼ inch per 24-hour period) and periods of dry weather (with less than 40 percent chance of rain). Public Works will monitor the National Weather Service (NWS) 72-hour forecast for the Project area. No work should occur when the active Project area is inundated by high storm flow, ponded due to wet weather, or during a dry-out period of 24 hours after the above referenced wet weather.
- A water safe paint should be used.
- No paint product should be applied when measurable rain is forecasted within 15 days.
- Paint should be applied when wind speeds are between 0-5 mph.
- Paint application should be initially applied and allowed to cure when weather is optimal (temperature/humidity).
- Do not paint when temperatures are above 90 degrees F, however since this will be exposed to direct sunlight, may want to consider an even lower temperature.
- For latex paint do not paint below 50 degrees F.
- For oil based paint do not apply when below 40 degrees F or when temperatures will drop significantly overnight/within 24 hours.
- Do not apply when surface temps are less than 5 degrees F above the dewpoint, when moisture can form on the surface.
- Do not apply paint when humidity is over 70-80%
- In the case of removal, harmful chemicals should not be used next to water and should not be allowed to contaminate soils/water bodies. This activity should also follow the weather limitations above, not when a storm is approaching/when flowing or ponded water is present.
- If removal entails equipment which would sand off the paint- it should be done in such a way that flakes/materials do not end up in the bed, bank, or channel. This activity should also follow the weather limitations above, not when a storm is approaching/when flowing or ponded water is present.
- Once applied foot traffic and heavy equipment should not be allowed in the area for 15 days. If masonry paint is used this may be expanded to 28 days.
- If removal is needed, CDFW should be contacted.
Paint Consideration:
Approved for sale in California.
- Free of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.
- Free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
- Free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- Water-Based and Non-Toxic Paints: Many storm drain mural projects use high-quality, non-toxic, water-resistant acrylic or latex paints specifically designed for outdoor use. These paints are considered more environmentally friendly than oil-based alternatives.
- Proper Disposal: Proper handling and disposal of paint products and cleaning residues are crucial to prevent runoff. Brushes should not be cleaned in areas where residue can flow into a gutter or storm drain.
- Sealing and Varnishing: Applying a protective sealer or varnish after the mural is completed can enhance durability, protect the paint from the elements (like UV damage and excessive moisture), and prevent chipping or peeling that could lead to pollutants entering the water.
- Surface Preparation: Proper surface preparation ensures the paint bonds effectively with concrete or masonry, reducing the likelihood of it deteriorating and entering the water system.
Project Overview
The Moon Ditch Flood Control Channel is an iconic location for urban art within Ventura County. Located off Highway 101 in Ventura, the channel stretches for over a mile near the Ventura Auto Center. The concrete slope of the ditch is visible from both the freeway and the rail-line. Over 130,000 commuters, workers and tourists pass the Moon Ditch every day. Though it may only be visible for brief moments if driving by, the concrete walls with their mismatch tags and graffiti make a considerable impression.
With a design yet to be determined, the mural in the channel will be undertaken by professional urban artists working in partnership with the local community groups and system involved youth to transform the space. The design will emerge through a series of artist workshops, community meetings, and conversations with residents. Through this process, artists will explore themes connected to clean waterways, community beautification and connection, art in public space, and how, together, this supports our mental health and wellbeing. Mural painting will be undertaken by dozens of artists and volunteers in the early months of 2026.
Studio Channel Islands invites artists who are interested in developing a design to register for more information here. Community groups interested in taking part in creative workshops or in painting the mural can request more information here.
Once complete, the Moon Ditch mural will deliver the largest mural in Ventura County. It will become a prominent cultural landmark on the Central Coast, and the creative engagement process will have a lasting impact on the community. Artists are encouraged to consider mural designs within the local ecology, our agricultural heritage, the history of the local community, and how the creative process can support both individual and community wellbeing.
This project is part of the VibeWell Ventura County program, which is a series of arts and culture projects to connect communities to mental health resources, reduce stigma associated with seeking and receiving mental health services, and increase overall wellbeing across Ventura County.
Commercial Partners
This project is funded through Ventura County Behavioral Health, Mental Health Services Act. Corporate entities are encouraged to contact Studio Channel Islands for more information on sponsorship opportunities.
History of the Moon Ditch
Named after Alphonse Moon, the drainage ditch which runs along the side of the 101 freeway and the Southern Pacific Railroad is an important feature in the landscape of Ventura County. The earliest known reference to the ditch is from 1898 and probably refers to an earlier location to the north it is current location. That ditch was constructed to take runoff from the southern edge of the Montalvo district to the Santa Clara River.
As the construction of the freeway between Victoria Avenue on the west and the Santa Clara River on the east began in 1965 the site of the draining ditch was moved to run parallel to the south side of the freeway and within the right of way of the railway. The improved Moon Ditch now consists of a concrete channel connected the urban storm drain system on the north side of the freeway through two culverts under the freeway. It enters into an underground culvert on the downstream side, where it outfalls into the Santa Clara River.