There’s a blank canvas in Santa Monica that needs an artist. This week, 22 middle school students will step up to the task, courtesy of a local ad agency.

The youths will paint a mural reflecting the theme “magic with logic” at Ocean Park Boulevard and Main Street, the site of an iconic mural depicting a 1920s beach scene that was vandalized and eventually whitewashed.

The theme is the motto of New York ad agency Select-NY, which has a Santa Monica office that donated $25,000 to make the project happen.

“The project is really for the kids,” said Angela Pih, managing director of SelectNY’s local office. “And the wall is for the community.”

The youth will be mentored during the summer program by high school peers and adult artists from the Venice non-profit Inside Out Community Arts, including local muralist Kristel Lerman.

The youth will learn about conflict resolution and accountability, and will research the seaside community to influence their mural’s design.

“They’re going to be learning a lot, even before they pick up a paintbrush,” said Varina Bleil, Inside Out’s executive director of education.