Main Street Morrilton seeks proposals for a site-specific public art installation at 101 S Moose Street, Morrilton, AR that will become a point of pride for the community and serve as a backdrop for many community events. The project will be funded in part by the Division of Arkansas Heritage.
Of particular interest are projects that include patriotic and historical themes related to local industries and landmarks.
Overview of project scope/vision/goals of the installation:
Artist proposals will be reviewed based on the following criteria:
Site specificity: ability of the work to engage art audiences and the general public with the location using elements of surprise, humor, imagery, design, etc.
Quality of the proposal and prior work
Fit for the Morrilton community and our neighbors
Feasibility of the proposal
Originality and timeliness
Safety of visitors and passersby
Artist Eligibility
Applicant must be an experienced visual artist:
Provide evidence of producing a large-scale outdoor wall project within the past ten years
Staff and volunteers are ineligible
Selection Process Overview
The Selection Committee will review applications and select a finalist to execute their design for the site contingent on approval of the committee’s recommendation by Main Street Morrilton and acceptance of subsequent design development deliverables. Execution of project is dependent on award by Division of Arkansas Heritage to Main Street Morrilton.
In addition to meeting eligibility requirements selection of finalists will be based on the following criteria:
Quality of letter and quality of work samples
Ability of artist or team to successfully design, produce and install project, based on application materials provided. Design concepts must meet the following criteria:
Conveys artistic excellence and supports goals of the project including:
honoring past
honoring current community
Considers ways to creatively and meaningfully engage community (during design phase and as part of interactive engagement with audiences)
Flexibility in design after engaging with local business/property owners
Has a broad appeal, and considers diverse audiences
Is durable, relative to the environment, vandalism, and changing seasons
Is considered safe and low-maintenance (The artwork must be freely visible and accessible to the public for at least two years.)
Audience
Selected work must meet safety requirements and be able to withstand the effects of weather and public use for a minimum of two years. Prior to preparing proposals, applicants are encouraged to visit the location, both during the day and at night. Applicants are also encouraged to learn about the history and context of the location and neighborhood. Artworks will be on display free of charge to passersby 24/7 while invigorating the site as a destination for (contemporary art lovers, the community, tourists, or ?).
Site Information The mural wall is adjacent to a public parking lot that is lit by street lamps in the evenings. The wall is currently a blank white wall and is facing East.
Timeline
September 28, 2022 - Deadline for RFP submission; all required materials received. A confirmation email will be sent to applicants once materials are received
September 29, 2022 - Committee review and selection of Artist(s)
September 30, 2022 - Artist(s) notified of final selection
December 31, 2023 - Deadline for completion
How to Apply
The following should be sent to Morgan Zimmerman by September 28, 2022.
1. COVER SHEET
Applicants must include a cover sheet with their name, mailing address, telephone number, email, project title, and a single paragraph of up to 150 words summarizing the proposed project. If applying as a team, please include the names and emails for each team member and identify one team member as the lead contact.
2. PROJECT PROPOSAL AND BUDGET
Applicants must submit a project proposal of up to 1,000 words that clearly describes the project and its relationship to the specific site. Applicants must submit renderings and sketches of the proposed project. Audio or video artists should include sound or video files. Proposals must demonstrate feasibility within the budget.
3. CURRENT RESUME OR CV
Resume or CV should include information about education; work and teaching experience; exhibition history, if applicable; awards, grants, and residencies; and other relevant information.
4. RECENT WORK WITH IMAGES AND SCRIPT
Applicants must include (up to ten) digital images of recent works. These images are in addition to images submitted as part of the project proposal. Art concepts and/or recent works may be in any medium. An image script with a numbered list that corresponds to the submitted images should also be included. For each image, include the title, date, and a brief description of the work.
Applications should be sent to:
SUBJECT: Mural Qualification
