Request for Qualifications: Public Art Mural Frankfort, KY

The Franklin County Arts Council (Frank Arts) is seeking a mural artist or artist team to design and install a publicly viewable mural on a private building exterior located in the historic Downtown Frankfort area.

THEME

There is no specific theme for this mural; however, the design should fit the location. Interactive murals that allow the public to engage with the work and present photo opportunities are of particular interest, as are those using trompe l'oeil techniques.

LOCATION

The mural will be on the East facing wall of Broadway Clay Building located at 223 W. Broadway. The wall is in a prominent location as an entry point into downtown Frankfort. It faces the parking lot of First Christian Church, also in close proximity to the KY History Museum. Broadway Clay is a homegrown pottery studio created by artists providing classes, memberships and gallery space.

The size of the wall is approximately 100 feet long and ranges from 25 feet tall at the back to 35 tall in front.  Vehicles can and do park in front of the wall. There is existing landscaping, including a semi-evergreen Sweetbay Magnolia that will remain.  A site visit is not required but is recommended, particularly for artists selected for Phase 2 of the selection process.

PROJECT DETAILS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Frank Arts seeks to connect, engage and instill an appreciation for art throughout the Frankfort/Franklin County community. The group’s mission is to use public art to create vibrant spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy and to encourage economic development. This project is part of Downtown Arts, a multi-year public art initiative.

Frank Arts is operated by an advisory board that is spearheading the Downtown Arts program in close partnership with the Josephine Sculpture Park. Funding for the mural is provided primarily by local benefactor Richard Rosen, with additional funding from local businesses, grants, and other local contributors where the mural is placed.

TWO-PHASED ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS

Phase 1: Request for Qualifications.  Artists and artist teams are invited to submit their qualifications for consideration. All submissions must be made by the July 9, 2021 deadline via the CaFÉ website (callforentry.org). Up to 5 artists or artist teams will be invited to submit a proposal as part of Phase 2. 

Phase 2: Request for Proposals. Selected artists/artist teams will prepare and submit a site specific proposal to be considered. An honorarium of $500 will be provided to each artist/artist team returning a completed proposal, which will be in addition to the all-inclusive mural budget.

PROJECT TIMELINE:

Note: We do not anticipate any changes in the schedule above, however, should one become necessary, artists will be notified in writing or, in the case of the RFQ, the information will be posted on CaFÉ. However, artists should assume all deadlines are firm.

ELIGIBILITY

Any artist over the age of 18 is eligible to submit their interest and qualifications. Artists who have a strong professional profile, experience in producing exterior semi-permanent public murals and/or have successfully worked on collaborative projects are encouraged to apply. Artist teams may also apply. Artists must be able to adhere to project timeline. Artists must have worker’s compensation and liability insurance and will be asked to provide proof during Phase 2 of the selection process.

PROJECT BUDGET

The all-inclusive budget for the mural is up to $20,000, depending on the size and complexity of the work. Artists selected for Phase 2 will be asked to provide an itemized budget as part of the proposal submission.

The all-inclusive budget includes: all artist fees and costs associated with design, fabrication, travel, transportation to the site, site preparation, worker’s compensation and liability insurance, permits, installation, shipping and transportation of materials to the site, any equipment needed for installation as well as transportation for such equipment, mural protective coating,  any applicable taxes, time spent in progress meetings, and any other costs incurred by the artist for this project. Artists will be required to participate in one “Meet the Artist” type event, which can likely be scheduled while the artist is in town.

Payments will be made directly to the artist(s) using the following schedule:

o   20% of total agreed upon fee is paid when contract is signed.

o   30% of total agreed upon fee is paid after the work is initiated.  

o   50% of the total agreed upon fee is paid upon completion.

PHASE 1 RFQ SELECTION PROCESS

Submissions will be judged/scored on the following, with a maximum score of 100 points:

• Artistic Excellence (maximum 40 points): The artist’s work reflects artistic excellence, innovation, and originality as evidenced by quality of craftsmanship and mastery of skills and techniques; demonstrates professional approaches to processes and presentation; and/or communicates a unique vision or perspective.
• Professional Experience (maximum 40 points): The artist’s professional experience is adequate to meet the demands of the project, including a proven ability to meet project budgets, deadlines, and to perform work in a timely and professional manner. Public art experience is required.
• Experience working on a project of similar scale (maximum 20 points): Previous work that can specifically demonstrate the successful completion of projects that include partnering with stakeholders for the purpose of creating public art of this size/scale. Experience with public engagement. Chosen artist will be expected to hold at least one Meet the Artist type event.

Artist submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of art and design professionals, key funders/sponsors, and property owners.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION OF QUALIFICATIONS

1. Current CV/resume. Teams must submit one resume/CV per team member.
2. Letter of Interest limited to one (1) page: Applicants should briefly describe their interest in the project and include a description of their approach.
3. Ten (10) images max of previously completed work that demonstrates an ability to design, create, and paint large scale, outdoor murals. We suggest providing images of 3-5 different artworks with 2-3 distinctive views of each piece, including one wide shot and one detail shot of each artwork. Do not collage multiple images into one image.
4. Image identification list: An image identification list should be provided corresponding to the submitted images. Information should include image number, artist’s name, title, year, media, dimensions, location, project budget, commissioning agency, and collaborators (if applicable).
5. A brief description of your intended proposed materials for site preparation, the work itself, and any protective coatings recommended.
6. Three (3) professional references. Please include name, title, address, affiliation, phone number, and email address.
7. Optional. Artists may include up to three (3) selections of support materials such as reviews, news articles, and other related information. 

Please note: submitted materials will not be returned and incomplete applications may not be considered.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURES

Submissions may only be submitted electronically through the CaFÉ website (callforentry.org).

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

All materials must be received by 11:59:00 p.m. Mountain Time Zone (Denver, CO, USA) on July 9, 2021. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered.

EXHIBITION PERIOD

The mural must be installed between Aug 25 – Oct 15, 2021 and will remain for an anticipated period of 7-10 years, at minimum. However, in some cases the work may be removed prematurely, for example, should the building change ownership.  

PROJECT DETAILS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Kentucky’s Capital City, Frankfort was founded in 1786 by General James Wilkinson and is located between the state’s two largest cities, Lexington and Louisville. With a population of 28,000 in the city and 50,000 in Franklin County, it’s one of the smallest state capitals.

Major industries in the Frankfort/Franklin County include Buffalo Trace Distillery, Jim Beam Distillery and state government.

Frank Arts supports the local effort to establish Frankfort/Franklin County as the Public Art Capital of Kentucky.

CONTACT

Please direct all questions or requests for assistance to:

Josie Kirker: franklinartsky@gmail.com

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria