Hamilton artist says he's owed tens of thousands for murals created under city program

Mural artist Scott McDonald was born and raised in Hamilton, and after going through throat cancer, he made it his mission to make a difference in the city.

He told CBC Hamilton he wanted "to leave a legacy of just having a vibrant arts scene in the city, and actually make this an artist city."

McDonald was an organizer of the Concrete Canvas festival and helped make Hamilton's first legal street art wall a reality. But after painting several beautiful murals around Hamilton, he said, dealing with the city has left him feeling "ripped off."

He said he can't afford to wait for the $40,000 he says he is owed for two murals he painted in the summer, after spending three years trying to get paid $10,000 for a mural he finished in 2021.

"The city needs to change," said McDonald, "I don't understand how they can get away with this."

McDonald said all three of these murals were done under the Commercial District Revitalization Grant Program.

The fee for his 2021 mural of Frankie Venom, lead singer of the Hamilton band Teenage Head, on Rebecca Street was $20,000, of which half would be reimbursed to the property owner under the program.

McDonald said the property owner paid him the $20,000 in full as he waited to get the $10,000 city reimbursement. 

He said the property owner did all the work required under the program, including getting permits, to set himself up for getting the money back from the city.

However, after a year of waiting, McDonald said he gave the property owner back the $10,000 because he felt bad about the situation.

Then, McDonald, the property owner and the city made an agreement in which the city would pay him the $10,000 by addressing the cheque to both McDonald and the property owner.

McDonald said he has made this agreement with the city for other murals before and "it was always a hassle."

According to Norm Schleehahn, director of economic development with the city, property owners who commission artists for these murals are responsible for paying the artist in full and provide proof before the city can reimburse the property owner.

However, "for this specific application and understanding the significant delays," once the city confirmed McDonald had been paid half of his amount owed and with the property owner's consent, the city was able to provide a joint cheque to McDonald and the property owner.