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Council approves contract for middle-school ‘Good of the Hive’ mural; trustees to release trust funds
Summary
The Portsmouth City Council authorized a contract with Matthew Willie Murals, Inc. to create the 'Good of the Hive' mural at the middle school, funded by a long-standing percent-for-art trust; trustees will be directed to disburse funds as the city manager certifies payments.
The Portsmouth City Council on May 18 authorized the city manager to enter into an art installation agreement with Matthew Willie Murals, Inc. for a mural titled "Good of the Hive" to be created in the Portsmouth Middle School courtyard.
The motion, brought forward after a public comment from Public Art Review Committee member Chris Dwire, ties the contract to funds the city set aside nearly 12 years ago as the middle-school percent-for-art contribution. "The Good of the Hive ... comes from the funds that we set aside almost 12 years ago now from the middle school rehabilitation project," Dwire said during public comment, noting the project’s educational and science-driven elements and student participation plans.
Councilors also approved a companion motion to direct the trustees of the public arts trust to disperse sums from the Middle School percent-for-art account to Matthew Willie Murals, Inc., "only to the extent of such funds to Matthew Willie Murals, Inc. as required under said contract," with disbursements made as the city manager certifies that funds are due under the contract. The council suspended the rules to take the item up early in the agenda and then voted to approve both motions.
Council discussion touched on logistics and lifecycle expectations: staff said the mural will be painted with exterior-grade, water-based mural paint and then varnished, with an expected usable life on the order of two decades. Councilor Bagley asked whether maintenance or sealing funds remain after installation; staff replied that the middle school will handle power-washing and initial lift costs require some additional fundraising by the school.
The contract sets a target installation timeline of fall 2027 and requires artist engagement with students and teachers during the multi-week installation. The council’s approvals included authorization for the city manager to request multiple disbursements under the contract up to the amount held in the trust associated with the middle-school percent-for-art contribution without further council votes.
Council actions: the city manager was authorized to execute a substantially similar art-installation agreement with Matthew Willie Murals, Inc.; trustees were authorized to make payments from the designated public arts trust account as certified by the city manager. The council indicated staff will return if further questions about lighting or long-term maintenance arise.
