Call for Artists: Delmar Main Street Mural Project

January 3, 2023

Call for Artists: Delmar Main Street Mural Project
Location: Delmar Metro Transit building

Creative Placemaking: Creative placemaking is a community development approach that uses arts and culture as a tool for revitalization. It is based on the belief that the arts can play a key role in catalyzing positive change in communities. Creative placemaking projects often transform underutilized, dilapidated, or vacant spaces into vibrant community hubs.

Delmar Metro Mural Project. This program supports the creation of outdoor murals through collaboration of the public, private and non-profit sectors. Delmar Main Street aspires to transform the Delmar Metro Transit Wall into a community magnet, tourist destination, and safe space with a beautiful and meaningful set of murals that reflects its community, culture, and artists. This mural project will revitalize the visual appearance of Delmar Blvd., and all mural concepts will reinforce the area’s identity, pride, values, and character.

Location. See Appendix A (below)

Project Guidelines. The murals are to be a series of large 4’x8’ non-permanent artwork specifically celebrating the diversity of the neighborhoods bordering Delmar and St. Louis.

SELECTION PROCESS

  • Submissions are open to entry by both individuals and groups.
  • Delmar Main Street is seeking artists from, living in, or connected to the Delmar region. However, this is not determinative of the final selection process.
  • The selection committee will be composed of community members, Delmar Main Street stakeholders, and representatives from Metro Bi-State.

ARTWORK GUIDELINES

  • Artwork must be displayed on weather-resistant, aluminum, 4’ x 8’ panels.
  • Each artwork selected will be displayed on the Delmar Metro Wall Transit Wall for 3-5 years. Once removed from the Metro Transit Wall, DMS reserves the right to include the art in a Main Street traveling corridor exhibit, where it might be placed in the median or used to beautify another vacant space or property.
  • Delmar Main Street will be responsible for installation through a contractor.

COMPENSATION

  • Up to six artists will be selected and receive $1,500 in compensation to complete one panel. Payment will be distributed as follows:
    • $500 upon contracting the artist
    • $500 upon ½ completion, and
    • $500 upon delivery of artwork).
    • All projects must be completed by May 19, 2023
    • The honorarium includes the cost of pre-and post-work, and painting supplies.
  • See Appendix B for submission timeline (below)

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

The submission deadline is Monday, January 30, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Incomplete submissions will be disregarded. Submissions must be original works of art and comply with all existing copyright laws.

SUBMISSION PACKAGE

A complete submission consists of the following components: 

  • Contact Information. Your name, address, phone number, and email, link to a website or social media account.
  • Work Sample. A single PDF that contains up to 10 images, including title, size, media, and up to 3 sentences about each Can be previous work or samples designed for this project.
    • File must be titled: lastname_firstname_images.pdf (no larger than 10mb)
  • Artist Bio, briefly describing your art practice and accomplishments. (250 words or less)
    • File must be titled: lastname_firstname_bio.pdf
  • Artist Resume/CV. (5-page maximum saved as PDF)
    • File must be titled: lastname_firstname_cv.pdf
  • Three references
    • File must be titled: lastname_firstname_references.pdf
  • Do not attach any additional items.

SUBMIT HERE
https://forms.gle/ioJsL172QDLp3mks9

Find more information on Delmar Main Street: https://www.facebook.com/DelmarMainStreetSTL

About Us: Delmar Main Street is a St. Louis Main Streets Program member. We are residents, businesses, stakeholders, and city officials working to revitalize and strengthen Delmar Blvd. from St. Louis city limits to Taylor Ave. Help us reimagine Delmar!

Appendix A: Location

 Metro Bus DeBaliviere Garage, 5760 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri

 

Appendix B: Timeline

  • Dec 23: Request For Qualifications opens
  • Jan 30 Midnight: RFQ closes
  • Week of Jan 30: Placemaking committee meets to choose artists
  • Week of Feb 6: Selected artists notified
  • Week of Feb 13: Mandatory Zoom meeting with Metro Transit and Placemaking to talk about parameters, design concepts
  • March 17 – Design Concepts Due
  • Week of March 20 – Placemaking committee and metro transit meet to discuss
  • March 27 – Feedback to artists
  • Month of April – Artists can pick up panels
  • Mid-April – Artists supply photo of work in progress or invite Panel for studio visit
  • FINAL ARTWORK DUE: MAY 19