Application Closed
Images | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 10
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 10
Eligibility: Regional
State: Colorado
To mark the centennial of the landmark legislation that granted women the right to vote, WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation) will commission the creation of a mural related to Women’s Suffrage in a highly trafficked site in Denver's Montbello neighborhood. A mural or series of murals will be painted along the canals located within the median across from the Montbello Student Campus near the intersection of Crown Boulevard and 51st Avenue. The selected site is central to many of those who reside in District 11 and will generate a great deal of traffic among school students and those who live and work in Montbello. This project was made possible through a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Federal Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission.
Project Goals
Significant project goals include the engagement of under-represented artists and collaborators that bring contemporary perspectives to the public realm; achieving a visually engaging design that becomes a platform for educational outreach; and involving the local creative economy in the development, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of the project. WESTAF seeks to identify artists with experience in developing projects with communities and in developing culturally responsive projects. The mural is expected to last at least five years. A portion of the budget will be set aside for maintenance.
Site
The canals are approximately 720 ft. in length x 16 ft. in width. Artist(s) will not be permitted to paint within 3 inches of the water line.
Eligibility
Regional: This call is limited to artists that reside within the 13-state WESTAF region that includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming and reside within 350 miles from Denver, CO. WESTAF will prioritize submissions from artists/artist groups that identify as being from historically marginalized communities, particularly those with a knowledge of the Montbello community and who identify as female.
Budget
$18,000 will be awarded for this commission. This amount includes all artist fees – community engagement, mural design, materials, fabrication and installation on site, insurance, transportation, maintenance, and project coordination directly with the WESTAF.
Submittal Requirements
- Professional resume (artist teams must submit resumes for each member)
- Letter of interest, outlining your interest in the project and a preliminary statement of approach to community engagement. Because community engagement is a significant component of this project, please include relevant experience(s).
- Confirmation of Eligibility
- Up to (10) images of completed projects. Please do not include conceptual drawings, proposals, or renderings.
Up to two finalists will be selected for interviews/presentations and will be paid a stipend of $1,000. Interviews will likely be held virtually due to the pandemic and social distancing guidelines.
About WESTAF
WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation) is a regional nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to strengthening the financial, organizational, and policy infrastructure of the arts in the West. WESTAF assists state arts agencies, arts organizations, and artists in their quest to serve diverse audiences, enrich the lives of local communities, and provide access to the arts and arts education for all. Through innovative programming, advocacy, research, technology, and grantmaking, WESTAF encourages the creative advancement and preservation of the arts regionally and through a national network of customers and alliances.
Founded in 1974, WESTAF is located in Denver and governed by a 22-member board of trustees comprised of arts leaders in the West. WESTAF serves the largest constituent territory of the six U.S. regional arts organizations and includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.