Call for artists—Parks for All Mural Project
Request for qualifications due September 19, 2022
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Forecast Public Art seek artists to develop murals to foster Parks for All. There will be 9 artists selected to create murals in 2023.
Call Open: August 19 – September 19 at 11:59 PM CDT, 2022
Commission: $6,000 artist fee + $3,000 for materials (to include artist travel)
Project Overview
In fall of 2021, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board adopted a new comprehensive plan, Parks for All, to guide the next 15 years of the park system. In celebration of the new vision, MPRB is hiring 9 artists to paint murals in the park system to represent the new goals in the physical park spaces that the plan represents. Each artist will develop a mural concept based on one of the goals. The murals will be painted at different parks across the system so that the pages of the new policy will come to life in the parks, build awareness about the plan, and foster a culture of accountability to the new vision by shining a light on the new community informed goals.
Nine goals will guide future development, operations and maintenance of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation system through 2036 based on its mission. Numerous strategies are outlined to achieve each goal within the plan. Each of the nine murals will represent one of the following goals, and the representation of the goal will be developed by each selected artist, in collaboration with MPRB staff:
- Foster belonging and equity
- Steward a continuum of nature and recreation
- Provide core services with care
- Work from our strengths and determine our role in partnerships
- Expand focus on health equity
- Strengthen ecological connections
- Connect through communications and technology
- Cultivate a thriving workforce
- Operate a financially sustainable enterprise
Mural Locations
The 9 mural locations have been selected based on the following goals: to help reduce the amount of vandalism in the park system; to reduce reactionary maintenance efforts required for tagging removal; to beautify park walls, and to celebrate the park system and park users. There are specific sites in the MPRB system that are frequent targets for vandalism that require countless hours of labor each year to remove and repaint.
Based on conversations with the community and maintenance and operations guidelines, the locations of the murals will be finalized and murals will be installed across the park system in spring of 2023. Artists will be paired with a site by the artist selection committee, and sites will be selected by MPRB staff with the following goals in mind:
- Visible to the public
- Based on walls or sites in need of routine maintenance related to tagging removal
- Located in highly visited spaces
- Owned and maintained by the Park Board
- Distributed across all five MPRB service areas
- Aligned with master plans
- Surface material compatible with mural medium
- Recommended by community and staff
Budget
Each selected artist will receive a total fee of $6,000, which includes artist fee and labor. A separate materials budget of $3,000 will be provided for any other costs associated with the project.
Maintenance
The mural locations will be prepped with a base coat by the MPRB Painting Crew and sealed with a seal coat. A plan will be established for restoring murals with the artist if any damage occurs for the determined life span of the mural, generally for 10 years.
Funding and Administration
Funding will be provided by MPRB operations funding, donations from community and neighborhood organizations, and grants. The call for artists, contracting with artists, and maintenance planning will be administered by Forecast Public Art. Artists will work with MPRB staff on approvals, community engagement, and event planning.
What to Submit
1. Artwork Samples
- Submit up to 5 images of previous work including 2-3 samples of previously executed murals or large-scale paintings (larger than 4’ x 4’)
- Image List: Include date, location, collaborators, size, and medium
2. Proposal
Please include a written description of up to two pages that addresses:
- Why you are interested and what excites you most about the project;
- An overview of your process and how you would approach this project;
- An overview of how you engage community members and diverse groups in your projects;
- Confirm availability to do work on site in Minneapolis in spring of 2023;
- Please note if you have a preference of a specific park or neighborhood in which you would like to create a mural.
- Also please note if there is an MPRB Goal (listed above, under Project Overview) that you are most interested in representing in your mural. This will not determine if you are selected, but will help guide the committee in pairing you with a topic and a site.
3. Resume
A current resume(s), including contact information up to two pages.
4. References
The names, addresses, and daytime phone numbers of two references who can speak about your ability as a muralist.
Entry Requirements
- Artists must be at least 18 years of age.
- Preference will be given to artists with a connection to Minneapolis.
- Artists should not submit a concept for the mural in the proposal but selected artists will be asked to develop a concept in collaboration with MPRB staff.
- Artist will be required to attend an orientation prior to the project start.
- Artist is responsible for providing materials (paint, brushes, rags, etc) they may need. The mural wall will be cleaned, primed, and ready to be painted on.
- Artists are responsible for the entire mural execution including the hiring and paying of assistants if the artist so chooses.
- Insurance will be required for the project.
- Artists will need to develop a maintenance agreement with Forecast Public Art and MPRB.
NOTE: Do not submit a mural concept at this time.
Please submit all RFQ materials via email to:
Yarlyn@forecastpublicart.org
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.
How Will Applications be Reviewed?
The selection process for this project is guided by the City Public Art Policies. An artist selection panel will be required to comply with the conflict-of-interest policies and review and evaluate applications based on the criteria below. The panel will include Park Board staff, an artist, and an arts administrator. Late applications will not be considered. Please note that applications that do not follow the stated guidelines may not be considered.
Artist selection will be based on the following criteria:
- Stimulate excellence in urban design and public arts
- Enhance community identity and place
- Contribute to community vitality
- Involve a broad range of people/communities
- Value artists and artistic process
- Use resources wisely
Details
- The mural sizes will vary according to location.
- The fee includes materials, artist stipend, community engagement, and subcontracting.
- Nine muralists will be selected for 2023.
- Completed murals will remain on the MPRB land and be owned by MPRB.
- Maintenance plans will be developed in collaboration with MPRB.
- Artist retains copyright to the artwork design.
- Mural concept and materials will need to be approved by MPRB staff and Board.
- Each artist should conduct community engagement as part of their process.
- Emerging artists are encouraged to apply.
(651) 641-1128
INFO@FORECAST
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