The Johnson City Public Art Committee (JCPAC) is seeking qualifications from artists or art teams for the commission of a mural to be located at 700 Buffalo Street in downtown Johnson City.
VIEW THE RFQ FOR COMPLETE DETAILS
ELIGIBILITY: This opportunity is open to all professional artists over the age of 18. Applicants must reside within the United States.
BUDGET: Up to three finalists will be selected to develop design concepts for this project. The total project budget for the selected commission is $27,000. Finalists will be paid a $500 honorarium for their designs. The selected artist(s) will be paid $25,500 for the commissioned work. The three finalists will be required to present their proposals to the Selection Committee via Zoom. The selected artist(s) will be responsible for own travel costs, materials, housing, and personal liability insurance when installing the mural. The selected artist(s) will also be responsible for applying an appropriate primer, UV sealant, and anti-graffiti coating to the walls/mural surface. The City of Johnson City will pressure wash the walls and attend to any necessary repairs prior to the installation.
DEADLINE: August 30, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This mural project will focus on our community’s dynamic tradition of oral and written literature and their vivid, vernacular forms of storytelling. The project encourages artists to explore the intersection of word and image through engagement with local poetry. A diverse selection of poems, composed by three different modern and contemporary poets local to the region, are provided for inspiration (please see the Request for Qualifications for more info). Artists are free to work with any number of the poems that resonate with them. Visual responses to the poetic text do not need to be literal or illustrative. Artists are encouraged to borrow freely, even impressionistically, from the poems. Text may be incorporated into the composition, but this is not required. The Committee hopes that the resulting mural will resonate with the poetic legacy of our region, excite viewers’ imaginations, and foster pride in our community.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
1. Completed submission form
2. Signed insurance checklist (The insurance checklist must be signed by either the artist’s insurance agent and the artist stating the policies currently held OR signed by the artist stating that he/she will obtain the required insurance policies if awarded the commission)
3. Signed general contract form
4. Cover letter/letter of intent
5. Resume
6. 10 digital images of previous artwork (Combine images into one pdf file)
7. Contact information for 3 professional references
Please note: Art teams must submit qualifications under the name of one lead artist. In the cover letter, the lead artist must indicate that they plan to work as part of a team and must list the names of the artist(s) within their team. Art teams shall submit at least 10 images of previous artwork, but they may submit up to 10 images for each team member if desired.
HOW TO APPLY:
Submissions may be emailed, mailed, or sent electronically.
Emailed submittals: Send to purchasing@johnsoncitytn.org
Mailed submittals: Enclose submittal in a sealed envelope plainly identified on the outer envelope with the proposer’s name and address, along with “RFQ # 2024-33‐ Buffalo Street Mural Project” and deliver or ship to: Director of Purchasing, 209 Water Street, Johnson City, TN 37601
Electronic submittals: Documents can be submitted electronically via our Vendor Registration System. This site requires sign up (use Agency free option) to utilize. Contact purchasing@johnsoncitytn.org if you need help registering.