Vermont Arts Council

RFP for two painted murals in Montpelier Vermont

Request for Proposals for Murals @ the Gateway Mural Park

Montpelier Public Arts Commission

Issue Date: April 27, 2023

Overview:

The Montpelier Public Arts Commission is eager to select and award grants to Vermont-based visual artists, or artist teams, for designing and painting murals below the Montpelier I-89 Interstate bridge on the concrete piers within the new Gateway Mural Park.  The Commission will review, select and award up to 2 grants of $1,500, based on the Commission’s jury process and the requirements of the State Agency of Transportation.  Selected works will be documented, promoted, and included in the Montpelier Art Walk and other city-wide arts events.

Submission Requirements

  1. Artist/artist team names, contact information, websites
  2. Project description w/ size of space on pylon chosen, in consultation with the Art Commission. Pilons areas are approximately 15’x20’, but must be verified by artist
  3. Images of proposed work and examples of previous pieces (10 maximum)
  4. Artist Bio and statement for this project (300 word per artist/team member maximum)
  5. Please submit a CV or resume

Guidelines

  • Proposed works must be durable and able to withstand the proposed duration of installation on the concrete bridge piers of I-89.
  • Artists are responsible for the installation of their work.
  • Submissions must be sent to [email protected] by 11:59 pm on June 15 for review at end of June, 2023.
  • Artists must visit the site with a commission member to select their area to paint.

Selection Process:

Selection(s) will be made by a jury coordinated by the Montpelier Public Arts Commission.  Proposals must be appropriate for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.  Design proposals will be scored according to the goals and guiding principles outlined in the Montpelier Public Arts Master Plan, which can be found on the city’s website.

Criteria of the Public Art Commission:

  • Pursue excellence in public art – 30 points
  • Enhance community character and attachment to place – 30 points
  • Contribute to community vitality – 20 points
  • Involve a broad range of people and communities – 20 points

Criteria of the State Agency of Transportation:

The design should have attributes of the area’s history, resources, character.  It should be appropriate to the setting.

There should be no text, symbols or icons (flags, logos, commercial symbols), no religious or anti-religious, no political symbols or messages, no colors that are reserved for traffic control, no kinetic art, no reflective or glaring surfaces.

Nondiscrimination Policy

The City of Montpelier does not discriminate against any qualified individual on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic bias, disability, citizenship, veteran status, or other categories protected by applicable state or federal law.

Questions?

Artists are encouraged to reach out to the Ward Joyce, Chair of the Public Arts Commission with any questions: [email protected]