Call Description

The City of Safford is seeking an Arizona artist (or team of artists) to create a mural on the exterior north wall of the Safford City-Graham County Library, located at 808 S 7th Ave, Safford, Arizona. The mural would face 8th Street, located at a busy intersection, and should reflect the role of the library in the community and encourage individuals to use the space. The mural will be approximately 70 feet wide and 10 feet, 7 inches high, with a brick and stucco base.

Note: Artists outside of the local area would be provided with accommodation for the painting duration of the project.  

Project Budget:  The total budget for the project is up to $25,000. This amount includes all artist fees, including mural design, execution of the mural, materials, equipment, and insurance.

Finalist Honoraria: Up to three (3) artists from the initial applicant pool will be selected to prepare a design/drawing of the proposed murals for consideration. They will be compensated $300 for their proposals. 

Projected Timeline

• Submissions Due: Thursday, April 23, 2026
• Finalists Notified: Monday, May 4, 2026
• Proposal Design/Drawing Due: Thursday, May 28, 2026
• Finalist Chosen and Notified: Thursday, June 11, 2026
• Mural Completion: Thursday, October 1, 2026

Application Requirements

Requirements and Deadlines for Submitting a Response to Call:

Deadline: Thursday, April 23, 2026

 Submissions will be accepted only via CaFÉ at www.callforentry.org. No e-mailed, mailed, or hardcopy submissions will be accepted.

To be considered for this commission opportunity, artists must create an account on the CaFE website and follow the directions to submit the following via the online application form:

The application must include:

1)    Letter of interest: No more than one page in length that explains the artist’s interest in the project and how the artist has worked to develop previous projects.

2)    Current Resume: If submitting as a team, a current resume must be submitted for each team member (2 page maximum per team member).

3)    References: Submit three (3) professional references who have direct knowledge of the artist’s work and working methods. The list must include name, title, company/organization, email address and phone number. If selected as a finalist, references will be contacted before the final interview.

4)    Images of Previous Work (10 maximum)

a.      Digital images must be .jpg or jpeg format,

b.     1200 pixels or greater on longest side

c.      File size: under 5 MB

d.     Do not include more than one image per jpeg.

e.      Do not superimpose your name, logo, or any other identifying characteristic on the jpegs.

f.       Please include the title, date, medium, budget, and size for each image (H x W x D), as well as a brief description of the project. List must identify the applicant’s role if the project involved a team effort. If a commissioned project, include the client, location, and budget.

Eligibility Criteria

Resident of Arizona

18 or older