Call to emerging mural artists: Paid Public Art Mentorship Opportunity  

Opportunity  

Business for the Arts Broward (BFA) is partnering with Florida Purchasing Agency on a mural mentorship for their building at 262 Commercial Blvd. LBTS, FL 33308. 

The mural mentorship project in Lauderdale by the Sea, FL aims to create a vibrant and visually striking mural under the guidance of Lead Artist Lori Pratico in partnership with BFA, funded by Wayne and Lucretia Weiner, Florida Purchasing Agency and Dara and Jarett Levan. Lori Pratico brings over 30 years of experience and creativity to the initiative. This collaborative endeavor will involve five mentee artists, providing them with the opportunity to build their mural skills and gain valuable insights into the process of creating murals. Throughout the project, the mentees will work closely with Lori Pratico, their mentor, participating in brainstorming sessions, design development, and the execution of the mural itself. This hands-on experience not only allows the mentees to contribute to a meaningful public art piece that reflects the community's unique character and spirit but also fosters personal growth and professional development in the field of muralism. 

Mural artists require training and experience to transition from small paintings to large scale work and often struggle with applying for public art commissions and building their portfolio. Through this mentorship, each of the five selected emerging artists will receive:  

Hands on experience in designing, scaling, and painting large scale murals.  

Mentorship and guidance from an established arts professional.  

Up to $5,000. stipend per artist for a minimum of 100 painting hours. 

Each artists’ general liability insurance coverage will be reimbursed. ($250-$350 value)  

Artists’ names will be included on the mural, and artists may take appropriate ownership of the project.  

Team Zoom meetings to  

review creating a proposal 

applying for insurance 

best practices 

pricing 

creating a budget 

selecting materials 

anti-graffiti coatings 

Continued career support available after the completion of this project.  

About Business for the Arts Broward 

Business for the Arts Broward is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) engaging businesses and business leaders to advocate and educate about the importance of the County’s art and cultural community as well as to recognize the connection between cultural vitality, creative success, and economic development. To learn more visit https://www.instagram.com/bfabroward/ or www.bfabroward.org. 

The mural will be on a highly visible wall heading east over the Intercoastal Bridge at 262 Commercial Blvd. LBTS, FL 33308. Chosen artists may have the opportunity to contribute their concepts and artistic style to the mural. The lead artist, Lori Pratico, will guide the design of the mural's overall look and have final say in its design and execution. The final design will be pre-approved by Florida Purchasing Agency and Lauderdale by the Sea.   

Meet the Mentor  

Lori Pratico is a professional artist who has been working in the arts industry for over 35 years. She started her arts career in Philadelphia as a billboard painter and has executed over 100 murals in 16 states. Her specialties include community engagement, hand lettering and surface design. Her work can be viewed at www.loripratico.com  

Eligibility Criteria  

Applicants:  

Artist must be 18 years or older at the time of submission.  

Artists must submit through the CaFE website. 

Artists must be based in Broward, Dade, Palm Beach or Monroe counties and have transportation to the mural.  

Artists must have a flexible schedule due to weather delays. 

Artists should have completed between 1 to 5 murals or 3-5 large artworks on canvas (36” x 38” or larger). 

Artists will not be considered if they have completed more than 5 public works. 

Artists must submit 8-10 images of current work (can be artwork that is not a mural). 

Artists are required to submit a written letter of interest outlining how they anticipate this mentorship program will influence their career in the arts. 

Availability: Artists must be available to work outdoors from approximately mid to late September through October 2025 (exact dates to be determined). 

Hours: A minimum of 100 hours required on-site for painting. 

Duration: Work to be conducted over approximately 10 to 15 days. 

Daily Commitment: Expect to work 7 to 9 hours per day. 

Work Schedule: 5 to 6 consecutive days per week, subject to weather conditions.* 

*If rain delays or hurricane delays occur, the project could extend its timeline.  

Information Session  

An information session for interested applicants will be held via zoom on May 15, 2025 @ 6:00pm. Participants will learn about the opportunity, application process, and may ask questions. To register for the session, please email lpratico@bfabroward.org  

Program Timeline  

Phase 1 – Artist Selection  

• April 25, 2025: Call to Artists released. 

• May 15, 2025, at 6:00pm Virtual Information Session. 

• June 1, 2025: Deadline for submissions. 

• June 20, 2025: Artist notifications. 

Phase 2 – Mentorship (zoom sessions will be recorded but we urge you to be available to attend in person so you can ask questions.) 

• End of June 2025: Meet via Zoom to review the project, requirements, and answer questions. 

• July 2025: Participate in two Zoom sessions to review and plan design elements. 

• Mid-September 2025: Attend a Zoom session titled “Introduction to Painting a Mural: What You Need to Know.” 

• Mid-Late September 2025 Join in-person for a social gathering to meet each other. 

• Mid-Late September/Early October 2025: Begin on-site mural installation (exact date to be determined). 

• Work a minimum of 100 hours on-site painting, averaging 7-9 hours per day, over 5-6 consecutive days per week, weather permitting. 

Application Requirements

Artist must be 18 years or older at the time of submission.  

Artists must submit through the CaFE website. 

Artists must be based in Broward, Dade, Palm Beach or Monroe counties and have transportation to the mural.  

Artists must have a flexible schedule due to weather delays. 

Artists should have completed between 1 to 5 murals or 3-5 large artworks on canvas (36” x 38” or larger). 

Artists will not be considered if they have completed more than 5 public works. 

Artists must submit 8-10 images of current work (can be artwork that is not a mural). 

Artists are required to submit a written letter of interest outlining how they anticipate this mentorship program will influence their career in the arts. 

Eligibility Criteria

Artist must be 18 years or older at the time of submission.  

Artists must submit through the CaFE website. 

Artists must be based in Broward, Dade, Palm Beach or Monroe counties and have transportation to the mural.  

Artists must have a flexible schedule due to weather delays. 

Artists should have completed between 1 to 5 murals or 3-5 large artworks on canvas (36” x 38” or larger). 

Artists will not be considered if they have completed more than 5 public works. 

Artists must submit 8-10 images of current work (can be artwork that is not a mural). 

Artists are required to submit a written letter of interest outlining how they anticipate this mentorship program will influence their career in the arts. 

Availability: Artists must be available to work outdoors from approximately mid to late September through October 2025 (exact dates to be determined). 

Hours: A minimum of 100 hours required on-site for painting. 

Duration: Work to be conducted over approximately 10 to 15 days. 

Daily Commitment: Expect to work 7 to 9 hours per day. 

Work Schedule: 5 to 6 consecutive days per week, subject to weather conditions.* 

*If rain delays or hurricane delays occur, the project could extend its timeline.