Call for Artists - Exterior Panel-Style Mural

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MONDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2023 BY 4:30PM!

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Osawatomie Arts Commission seeks qualified artist(s) to design and implement one (1) outdoor panel-style mural at a selected location within the heart of the community’s John Brown Memorial Park. The project is funded through a grant award made available by the Allen W. and Gladys Hawkins Charitable Foundation. The mural is to be painted on frame-mounted panels attached to the southern wall of the John Brown Museum State Historic Site’s on-site storage garage. The southern wall is approximately 8’ tall by 25’ wide. Landscape cleanout of existing shrubbery and weeds will occur prior to mural implementation (to be completed by the City of Osawatomie), however a bed of heirloom irises is located around the building and will seasonally obscure the bottom approximate 18” of the wall. This is a concrete block facility.

(In the image above, the left half of the wall is home to the heirloom flower bed. The shrubbery on the right will be removed, and the space available for interactive design.)

(This concrete block storage garage is located immediately to the west of the John Brown Museum State Historic Site in John Brown Memorial Park. Approximate address is 1000 Main Street. As noted above, the City of Osawatomie will address the landscaping in front of the facility prior to mural implementation.)

PROJECT SCOPE

The Osawatomie Arts Commission has produced the following set of expectations regarding this mural opportunity:

• It’s desired that this mural be interactive or partially interactive (not to interfere with above mentioned heirloom flower bed).
• Previous mural experience is required for the lead artist, but OAC welcomes team applications or other collaborative partnerships.
• A total amount of $3,000 is being allocated to this project. The allocated budget must be sufficient to cover artist fee(s), supplies, or other equipment the artist deems necessary for the successful completion of the mural. The project budget must also be sufficient to cover the requested panels and frame mount for the mural.
  • Artist must be knowledgeable in installing panel-style murals and accompanying framework, including necessary materials.
• General concept and/or theme for the mural is open to artist preference, but the City and OAC must approve the final design before implementation begins. (Selected finalists may be offered a stipend to more fully develop a conceptual design or produce a rough draft.)
• The mural should be able to be completed in Summer 2023 at the earliest opportunity depending on weather conditions, but no later than August 1, 2023.
• Due to the panel-style nature of the project, the selected artist would be welcome to paint off-site and deliver and install panels once completed.

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE

Instructions for Application

Interested artists should send all materials via email to [email protected] with the subject line “OAC Mural.” Applicant materials must be submitted by 4:00pm CST on Friday, April 21, 2023***. Late submissions or incomplete submissions may not be considered. 

***APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MONDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2023 BY 4:30PM!

Materials should include:

• Letter of Interest
  • While drawn concepts or designs are not required or requested at this stage, OAC welcomes any inclusion of conceptual ideas if desired by the artist(s).
    • Selected finalists may be offered a stipend to more fully develop a conceptual design or produce a rough draft.
  • Portfolio or Examples of Artist Experience
    • Links to online portfolios acceptable
    • Submitted portfolios should not exceed five (5) pages in length

Due to the expected volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants or applicants selected as finalist(s) may be contacted. We thank you all for your interest in our project and hope you will continue to apply for future projects!