Thrive Allen County and the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) have partnered to spearhead this public arts initiative. This initiative will offer one artist the unique ability to showcase their original artwork. The goal of this initiative is to increase tourism, increase physical activity, and to bring beauty to Allen County trails.
Eligibility
Thrive Allen County is a community-based organization. This call for artists is open to anyone willing to submit a proposal that can complete the requirements as specified, including the design and delivery of the artwork. Therefore, any designs that include advertising, soliciting, campaigning, or other promotional or commercially-driven entries are ineligible.
Artist Compensation
The chosen artist will be compensated through a stipend of $6,000 which is intended as a design fee, and will be paid in increments during the project period. The artwork will remain the property of Thrive Allen County and can be removed at the owner’s discretion. The selected artist will also be given a daily per diem during the project period (up to one week) for meals and/or lodging, if need be. Project material cost may not exceed $1,200 and will be paid by Thrive Allen County.
Selection Process & Criteria
Winning proposals will be selected by a community taskforce. Criteria will include artistic merit, appropriateness of the artwork, diversity, and artist resume. Artist may also be interviewed.
Location
The fence is located on south State Street in Iola, Kansas intersecting with the Elm Creek Bridge. The fence is 8 feet tall and 400 feet long. 20 feet of fence will be the earmarked location for the proposed mural.
Schedule
All proposals are due by January 18, 2021 at Thrive Allen County by 5:00 PM. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted. Interviews may be held after the due date. The winning proposal will be selected by January 31, 2021 and announced by February 5, 2021.
The artist with the winning proposal must be prepared to begin their art as early as March 1, 2021 and have it completed no later than June 10, 2021. Artwork not selected may be picked up at Thrive Allen County by February 28, 2021. Anything not picked up by this date will become the property of Thrive and may be discarded.
The artist chosen to complete the mural agrees that Thrive Allen County may reproduce images for non-commercial, educational, and promotional purposes, and will credit the artist. Please not that during the project, the trail will continue to be accessible to the public. During the painting of the mural, Thrive will organize community engagement activities such as live-stream social media events, artist meet and greets, and artist interviews.
Please submit the following:
- Sketch of desired mural piece
- Examples of previous work
- Resume of past work/exhibitions
- Single page with artist contact information, explanation of the design concept, overall dimensions, and proposed material with price for materials.
Submit to:
Thrive Allen County
9 S Jefferson, Iola KS 66749
summer@thriveallencounty.org
Questions? Contact Summer Boren: summer@thriveallencounty.org, 620-365-8128
