[Sponsored Listing] The City of Woodstock, Illinois, seeks artists’ proposals for the North Benton Street Mural as part of an outdoor dining and entertainment area in its historic downtown district. The commissioning of a new mural in the historic district is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to give residents and visitors opportunities to engage with the arts.
The mural will be attached to the exterior, west-facing facade of a privately owned building at 220 North Benton Street. The proposed mural site is located on a street adjacent to the historic Woodstock Square and within the historic district. During summer months, the street is closed to vehicular traffic. It is used as an outdoor dining and entertainment space by several nearby restaurants. The site has high visibility and a significant amount of pedestrian traffic.
Residents and visitors come to the historic Woodstock Square to attend performances at the Woodstock Opera House and private music and movie venues, as well as numerous special events throughout the year. The award-winning Woodstock Farmers Market, locally owned shops, and popular bars and restaurants attract people to the Woodstock Square in large numbers.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 25 Feb 2022
Timeline:
- Finalists selected: By March 4, 2022
- Design submissions: By March 25, 2022
- Mural agreement available: By April 15, 2022
- Project completed: By July 15, 2022
There is no submission fee. Artists may submit more than one proposed concept. Designs must be the artist’s own work and must not violate any copyright restrictions. Any artist with previous mural design and installation experience is eligible to submit a proposal. All correspondence and contracts are part of the public record. By submitting materials you are (1) consenting to the release of those materials by the City in response to requests under the Public Records Act and (2) agreeing to indemnify and hold harmless the City for release of such information.
Artists shall submit the following for consideration:
- Artist Application
- Resume
- Link to portfolio
- One to two paragraph narrative describing design concept, including substrate
- Reference
City staff will review applications for completeness and eligibility. The City Council will determine final project award and contract terms. Designs may also be subject to review by the City’s Historic Preservation Commission and the City’s Arts Commission. After review by an art advisory group, finalists will be selected and notified to submit a full-color design for consideration. A $500 design fee will be paid to those artists not chosen as the finalist.
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Artistic excellence, vibrancy, and originality of the artist
- Appropriateness of the design for its site in Woodstock’s entertainment district
- Documented experience of the artist in completing similar projects
The mural will be mounted to the west-facing brick façade of a historic building. The space available for the mural is approximately 30 feet by 12 feet. Permission from the building owner has been secured. It is clean and in good condition for an installation. The wall abuts the sidewalk; there are no obstructions. The City will work with the selected artist to accommodate requests for access to power and water as well as overnight storage of materials. The mural should be installed to withstand weather and other site conditions for a term to be agreed upon by the selected artist and the City in the mural agreement. The mural is subject to removal by the City at any time during or after the agreed upon period.
Policies:
- The selected artist must show proof of liability insurance prior to beginning mural installation. The City of Woodstock, Benton Street LLC, and any other parties participating in installation must be named as additional insured entities.
- Proposed designs remain the property of the artist unless the design is selected by the City. The selected design and installed mural will be the property of the City of Woodstock. As such, no royalties or fees, beyond the initial artist’s fee, will be attached to its ongoing use by the City.
- Any unapproved substitutions or deviations from the approved final design or proposed materials may result in termination of contract, removal of imagery, and non-payment of any amount due. City staff will monitor mural installation.
North Benton Street Mural Artist Benefits
The artist stipend is $12,000. This amount must cover the artist’s design fee, supplies and travel. The City of Woodstock will pay for the substrate and equipment necessary to complete the project onsite. One-third of the amount will be paid when the mural agreement is signed; one-third at the project mid-point; and one-third when the project is completed.
Woodstock prides itself as McHenry County’s epicenter of artists, creative entrepreneurs, and those who appreciate imaginative expressions in an area rich with visionaries. Located in a collar county, Woodstock is a commuter rail stop away from Chicago and acts as a uniquely urban city surrounded by rural amenities such as agri-tourism farms, designated scenic drives and conservation areas nestled within glacial topography.
Woodstock’s rich history and vibrant sense of community provide a far-reaching opportunity for interested artists to express themselves, spark conversation, and capture the essence of a modern place rooted in its rich past.
Interested artists will find that Woodstock’s far-reaching marketing and recognizable Real Woodstock brand, along with community support for the arts, is tailor-made to propel commissioned works to the forefront of national awareness. Coupled with City support through its newly formed Arts Commission, artists commissioned for inaugural exhibits will be featured prominently as the public arts program continues to gain momentum through well-curated 2-D and 3-D art installations.
About the City of Woodstock, Illinois
Woodstock is the arts and culture focal point of McHenry County, Illinois. The Historic Woodstock Square is home to the Woodstock Opera House, Stage Left Café, and numerous other arts and entertainment venues. In its most recent downtown development plan, the City identified the creation of public art in the Woodstock Square Historic District as a goal.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized as a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and named a Preserve America Community by the White House, Woodstock is a community unlike any other. The Historic Woodstock Square offers many shops and retail establishments in a unique and nostalgic atmosphere.
Throughout the year, Woodstock is host to many events, festivals, and fairs, from Fair Diddley Art Fair, to Summer Band Concerts, award-winning Farmer’s Market, to HarvestFest, and Groundhog Days–celebrating Woodstock’s starring role as Punxsutawney, PA in the 1992 Bill Murray classic movie Groundhog Day. The beautiful Gothic style Opera House serves as the cultural entertainment center of Woodstock, featuring plays, concerts, and performances throughout the year, including the Midwest Mozart Festival each summer.
For more information, contact kcoltrin@woodstockil.gov.
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Via Las Vegas announces a call for artists for their Street Painting Festival. They are looking for incredible artists to create extraordinary art. Making art is all about the journey. What better way to enjoy creating than with others to witness the magic you bring to life. Pastels are the medium and the street is your canvas. The event is free to the public, meant to promote the arts and artists of Las Vegas, and makes art engaging for all. This includes people with special needs in the ‘Art-For-All’ Wall.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 20 Jul 2020
There are no fees to participate.
No idea what street painting is or how to do it? No problem. Via Las Vegas will host several artists’ workshops for anyone interested in learning more about street painting or just to get a feel for what the event is all about.
Event dates: September 19th and 20th, 2020. Expect 10-15 thousand people over the two day weekend.
Street Painting Festival Participant Benefits
All participating artists will be promoted on the Via Las Vegas website with their photo and bio as soon as they are confirmed. Via Las Vegas will promote participants via Instagram and FB with posts about each artist leading up to the event. Participants will receive supplies to create their work, goodie bag filled with fun items from sponsors, festival T-shirt, food over 2 day weekend, free artist workshops leading up to the event, artist reception, and, of course, an incredible audience to view your masterpiece.
Artists are encouraged to pass out cards and flyers with their information while they work for anyone interested in commissioning them for a project.
About Via Las Vegas
Via Las Vegas is a non-profit arts festival hosted by Tivoli Village.
For more information, contact melanie@vialasvegas.org.
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Nelson and District Arts Council (NDAC) announce a call for artists for the Nelson International Mural Festival. Travel to the stunning mountains and lakes of the Kootenays. Up to 10 artists are chosen annually to paint large scale murals throughout the alleyways of historic downtown Nelson, BC, Canada.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 31 Jan 2020
Cultural vibrancy in Nelson continues to flourish under the festival’s engagement of street artists, muralists, creators, and art enthusiasts joining the festival from the local, national, and international art scene. Through large scale public artworks, educational opportunities, and by animating the public sphere with reflections of local cultures, histories, and stories, the NDAC furthers and fortifies collaboration among artists, businesses, and community members. The festival is inclusive of all cultures, genders, ages, and abilities.
Walls are selected with the following considerations: accessibility for artists, size, composition, exposure, and funding availability (however funding is not necessarily a barrier). Both private and public walls are included in the festival. In the case of privately-owned walls, the building owners are given the opportunity during the application process to indicate the artistic styles they are enthusiastic about. Matches are made between artists and walls based off those suggestions. Building owners will have one opportunity to consult with the artist for a draft alteration. If a collaboration cannot be reached, the artist will still be paid their design fee. No gratuitous violence, racism, or hateful content is permitted and the mural shall not include any business signage or logos, advertising, political or religious messages.
Nelson International Mural Festival Selection Process
Artists will be selected by a 5 member arm’s length jury who represent a cross section of interests in the community (business, arts, and tourism). Their primary considerations are artistic merit of portfolio, large scale work experience, and design skills/composition. Selections will be based off of previous work and portfolios. Successful applicants will be contacted before June 15th, 2020. Due to capacity limitations, we are only able to contact successful applicants.
Selected artists will be sent a contract for perusal. Once signed, the artists will be given two weeks to provide a rough sketch, a proposed colour scheme, a bio, and a headshot. Upon receiving these items, a 10% design fee will be paid. Artists will then coordinate their painting schedule and paint/supply order with the festival coordinator. It is imperative that artists stick to the painting schedules that are agreed upon. The festival is located in a small community with limited resources that need to be booked well in advance.
Artists must be available to attend the festival opening on Friday, August 14th, 2020, and the artist panel on Sunday, August 16th, 2020. There will also be opportunities to host all ages workshops for additional fees. The painting will take place between June 15th-August 14th. Selected artists will be scheduled to paint based off of their availability and proximity to Nelson.
Nelson International Mural Festival Artist Benefits
All artists are paid fairly for their participation in the festival. All supplies and equipment are provided by the festival. Once a muralist is selected for the festival, the artist will be paid to complete a detailed drawing/design. Each artist will be compensated based on the size and scope of their mural. $2500-$3500 CAD budget per mural for artist fees, this will vary project to project. Payment will be received upon the successful and timely completion of the mural.
The Nelson International Mural Festival is unable to provide assistance with travel for the majority of our artists; however, we make every effort to assist with billeting arrangements for visiting artists.
Social Equity
The NDAC strives to create a barrier-free festival. They host all events at accessible public spaces and offering all events and activities free of charge. The mural festival provides a platform for all voices to be heard through public art. The festival is committed to diverse programming. They work to ensure that varied cultures are represented annually, so as to provide inspiration to all who attend, not just one group. Bringing art out of the galleries and into the streets provides everyone the chance to experience the pieces, not just those that can afford an admission ticket.
About Nelson and District Arts Council
The Nelson and District Arts Council (NDAC) is a registered non-profit organization that was formed in 1969 as the Kootenay-Columbia Arts Council.
All the Board Members are volunteers who are committed to promoting and encouraging cultural and artistic activities in the community through successfully accessing funds for projects.
NDAC has individual and group members who all participate in art and culture related activities. Members represent such disciplines as theatre, music, dance, visual arts, crafts, heritage, and writing.
NDAC presents a number of projects each year intended to foster the arts in Nelson and District. They include the Nelson ArtWalk, Hidden Creek Artist Residency, Appetite for Art, the Dance Educator’s Showcase, the Rural Artist Support Weekend, the Nelson International Mural Festival, and Bigby Place Arts Initiative.
Fostering communication, networking, and providing support to members is one of NDAC’s main objectives. In addition, members and member groups are eligible through us for small funding awards from the B.C. Arts Council.
Advocacy, representation, and education are all important in fostering greater appreciation and support of arts and culture in the Nelson area. NDAC has a seat on the Cultural Development Committee for the City of Nelson. They work toward a more coordinated arts, culture, and heritage community.
The region is famous for it’s “Kootenay Culture,” that runs through the arts, heritage, and people of the region. They are proud to support arts and culture in the Kootenays.
For more information, contact info@ndac.ca.