Call for Artists - Main Street Plaza Mural

Call for Artist

Call for Artist(s) - Outdoor Mural Opportunity
Published May 5, 2023

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Osawatomie Arts Commission seeks qualified artist(s) to design and implement an interactive, outdoor, direct paint mural in a developing community space in our downtown Main Street corridor. The project is funded through a grant award made available by the Allen W. and Gladys Hawkins Charitable Foundation. While still very early in its development, the community space is intended to be a place for people to gather, picnic, celebrate, and make connections with friends and neighbors. The mural should reflect that spirit and enhance the atmosphere of the plaza.

main st plaza wall
The project wall faces a developing “plaza” or community space.

PROJECT SCOPE

The project location is 528-530 Main Street on a recently tuck pointed brick surface measuring a total of roughly 20’H x 65’L. Artist(s) are welcome and encouraged to cover as much of the wall as possible, though primary focus is on the right-hand portion nearest Main Street (roughly 20’H x 30’L). The Osawatomie Arts Commission has produced the following set of expectations regarding this mural opportunity:

  • Previous mural experience is required for the lead artist, but OAC welcomes team applications or other collaborative partnerships.
  • A contract budget of $8,000 has been allocated to this project. This budget must be sufficient to cover ALL artist fee(s), supplies, tools, or other equipment the artist deems necessary for the successful completion of the mural.
  • General concept and/or theme for the mural(s) is open to artist preference, but the City and OAC must approve the final design before implementation begins.
  • The mural(s) should be completed in Summer 2023 at the earliest opportunity depending on weather conditions, but no later than September 1, 2023.

TIMELINE

May 5, 2023

Call for Artist Published

May 26, 2023

Application Deadline

June 6, 2023

Review of Qualifications and Artist Selection(s)

June - July 2023

Contract Awarded and Design Finalization

June - August 2023

Implementation

September 1, 2023

Final Deadline for Implementation

Instructions for Application

Interested artists should send all materials via email to [email protected] with the subject line “Plaza Mural.” Applicant materials must be submitted by 4:00pm CST on Friday, May 26, 2023. Materials should include:

  • Letter of Interest
    • Letters of interest should include some form of proposed budget or artist fee table (such as artist’s cost per square foot).
    • Please include an estimated calendar of availability for completion of the mural.
    • While concepts or designs are not required or requested at this stage, OAC welcomes any inclusion of conceptual ideas if desired by the artist(s).
  • 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 apply again in the future.

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CONTACT

Sam Moon
Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
(913) 755 - 2146 x103