Call Description

Muralocity: Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Five Outdoor Mural Opportunities in Downtown Lowell, Michigan

Muralocity is a Public Art Initiative that will activate historic downtown Lowell, Michigan with five community-driven murals. The project is organized by Lowell Arts in partnership with the City of Lowell's Downtown Development Authority.

This is a two-phase selection process. Artists will submit their experience and qualifications for review. The Selection Committee will identify finalists who will then be invited to develop detailed, site-specific proposals. Only finalists will advance to the Request for Proposals (RFP) phase.

Finalists will receive a $400 stipend to support design development, research, and final presentation. This opportunity is open to professional and emerging artists and artist-led teams 18 years or older.

Project Timeline

• Call for Artists (RFQ) opens: February 15
• Call for Artist (RFQ) submission deadline: March 20, by 11:59 pm ET
• Notification of finalist selections: March 27
• Finalists develop detailed proposals (RFP period): March 28 to April 17
• Notification of artist selections for commission: May 1, 2026
• Artwork installation: August 1 to 28
• Artwork dedication event: October 10

Project Background

Muralocity is Lowell's first coordinated public mural program, transforming downtown into a cultural destination that reflects authentic community stories.

Since 1977, Lowell Arts—located 20 miles east of Grand Rapids—has provided professional arts programming through gallery exhibitions and performances. Muralocity extends this mission into public spaces, creating art that residents encounter daily.

The Downtown Development Authority engaged Lowell Arts to develop public art infrastructure, including community engagement, policy development, and formation of a Selection Committee. Through public surveys and community input, five mural sites were identified based on visibility, accessibility, downtown distribution, and historic district compatibility.

Project Scope

A Selection Committee will select fifteen finalists to advance to the Request for Proposals (RFP) phase. From these finalists, five artists or artist-led teams will be selected—one for each mural site—to design and install murals at their assigned locations in downtown Lowell.

Finalists will integrate community input gathered through the DDA-funded discovery phase, including public surveys and community engagement projects conducted throughout 2025. Finalists will have access to these findings, which provide insights into how residents envision public art reflecting Lowell's values and stories.

Each mural site has a pre-determined theme that will serve as the foundation for proposals:

• An immersive wildlife experience featuring native plants, fauna, and sky scenes as an extension of a local playground
• A panoramic celebration of the river, Lowell's iconic riverboat, and native species
• An exploration of electricity and the beauty of light and energy
• Imagery weaving together the 1977 Artrain visit that sparked the founding of Lowell Arts
• A celebration of the city's industrial heritage at the convergence of the Grand and Flat Rivers

Each finalist should incorporate a community engagement element into their proposal. This may include public input sessions, collaborative design components, or other meaningful ways for residents to participate in the creative process.

Site Descriptions

The five mural sites span diverse downtown locations, each highlighting different aspects of Lowell's community identity. Finalists will receive detailed site information and choose which site(s) to develop proposals for.

The sites include three murals with paint applied directly to brick structures (one requiring a lift) and two murals in the historic district on panels that can be installed before or after artwork is applied. Three murals are mid-sized, between 500 and 600 square feet, and two are larger, measuring approximately 1,100 square feet. Lowell Arts will prepare all brick and panel surfaces for painting.

Artwork Goals

The Selection Committee seeks murals that:

• Celebrate community identity: Reflect authentic stories about Lowell's cultural heritage, values, and character, evoking curiosity, delight, and pride while connecting to the natural and urban landscape
• Enhance downtown as a destination: Create visual landmarks that draw residents and regional visitors to downtown Lowell as a welcoming place that embraces creativity and community
• Demonstrate excellence: Show the highest quality in creative vision and technical execution
• Ensure durability and compliance: Withstand weather and wear with minimal maintenance while meeting public safety standards, City of Lowell requirements, and Historic District Commission guidelines where applicable

Artwork Commission Budget

Commissions range from $5,000 to $10,000 based on square footage. The commission is all-inclusive and covers artist fee, design development, paint and materials, insurance, community engagement time, transportation, and installation labor.

Lowell Arts will provide:

• Site preparation (wall primer/base coat for brick murals; exterior-grade plywood panels for historic district sites)
• Scaffolding rental (if needed)
• Anti-graffiti protective coating materials and application
• Mounting hardware and installation systems (panel murals)
• Rain strips for weather protection (panel murals)

Selected artists are responsible for arranging their own insurance coverage. Artists must either provide proof of Workers' Compensation Coverage or apply for a Workers' Compensation Coverage Waiver as required by Michigan law.

Artist Qualifications

Artists or artist-led teams should demonstrate professional experience with public art projects of similar scope and scale, and the ability to work collaboratively to produce context-sensitive designs that respond to Lowell's sense of place. Emerging artists without public art experience will also be considered if they demonstrate aptitude for large-scale work through prior projects and creative vision.

Team applications: If applying as a team, the team must be led by a professional artist. The team leader must submit the application and clearly identify themselves as such. Artists may submit only one application—either as an individual or as part of one team.

Selection Process

The Selection Committee will review all RFQ submissions and select finalists to advance to the proposal phase. The Selection Committee includes representatives from Lowell Arts, the City, DDA, Historic District Commission, and community members with expertise in art and design and/or knowledge of Lowell's cultural identity and history.

Finalist Process and Proposal Development

Finalists must attend a pre-proposal meeting (in-person or remote) to receive information necessary for proposal development, including:

• A detailed report summarizing community engagement efforts, including survey findings and public input from the 2025 discovery phase
• Site-specific criteria and requirements for each mural location
• Historical and cultural resources about Lowell gathered from community input
• Technical specifications for each site
• Opportunities to conduct site visits

Proposals must demonstrate how the artwork incorporates community engagement findings and reflects downtown Lowell's character and values.

Finalists will receive a $400 stipend for design development, research, and presentation materials. Finalists must submit a PDF color rendering of their proposal by April 17, 2026.

Artwork Proposal Phase

Finalists will submit their proposals to the Selection Committee. Proposals must include scaled designs, renderings, and/or models, accompanied by a written statement describing:

• Project concept and how it incorporates community engagement findings
• How the artwork reflects Lowell's identity and site context
• Installation methodology
• Project schedule
• Community engagement approach

Application Requirements

RFQ Submission Requirements

To be considered for this project, applicants must submit all required materials via the callforartists.org website by 11:59 pm ET on March 20. There is no application fee. No other method of submission will be accepted.

Required Materials

1. Letter of Interest

A letter not to exceed one page outlining your interest and qualifications for this project. Include your address, email, phone number, and website. Describe relevant experience with large-scale murals, public art projects, site-specific work, community collaboration, or other large projects that make you well suited for this commission. Emerging artists without extensive experience should describe their aptitude for large-scale work through prior projects and creative vision. (Note: Do not submit a mural proposal at this time.)

2. Résumé or CV

A résumé or CV outlining professional accomplishments and including two professional references (name, organization, email, and phone number). If applying as a team, submit a résumé for each team member combined into one PDF. References will only be contacted for finalists during the interview process.

3. Images of Past Work

Five to twenty (5-20) images and up to two videos of past artwork demonstrating your qualifications. Teams must stay within the 20-image limit and should include work from all members as appropriate. Upload all materials through the callforartists.org platform.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility: This Call for Artists is open to all professional artists and/or artist-led teams 18 years of age or older.