Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Seeking Artists For Norristown Mural

According to nonprofit arts group Project Twenty1's blog, the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, working with the Norristown Arts Hill, has received a grant from Sen. Daylin Leach's office to create a mural for Norristown.

The mural, planned for the Lafayette Street-side exterior of 20 DeKalb Street will act as a welcome gateway to Norristown for folks coming from the DeKalb Street Bridge. The theme for the mural is "Celebrating 200 Years of Arts, Culture and Commerce – Past, Present and Future."

Artists who live and/or work in the Norristown are and are able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the mural-making process (and preferably have experience working with parachute cloth, operating a scissor lift and working on scaffold) are invited to apply for the job. The artist selected must also have the ability to coordinate and manage community paint days so the public can participate in the creation of the mural.

There's Mural Arts Program is offering a $3000 design fee for the project and a $9000 installation fee. The Mural Arts Program will provide wall prep, paint, parachute cloth, sundries, the lift and a part-time assistant.

A panel made up of representatives from the Norristown Arts Council, the community, and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program will review artist submissions and recommend finalists. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012.

Artists interested in applying should submit the following:

Five hard copies of an Artist Statement of Interest (two typed pages maximum), explaining how you would approach this project, including how your artwork for this site would look to reflect Norristown’s past, present, and future arts and cultural community and describing relevant experience that would contribute to your success in completing this project. The statement should also confirm your availability to undertake this project in the timeline.

Five hard copies of a current resume or biography (two typed pages maximum) and an additional page listing three professional references, including complete contact information for each and statement of how that person is related to your work.

One CD with up to eight digital images of your artwork or up to 12 digital images of your artwork if you are submitting as a team of artists. Images must be saved as JPG files at 72dpi with a maximum pixel dimensions of 1000 x 1000. All images MUST be clearly labeled with the artist’s or team of artist’s last name(s), first name(s), and number (order to be viewed).

Five hard copies of an annotated list (typed two pages maximum) to accompany the digital images of your artwork, including description, material, location, budget, client or commissioning organization and any other relevant project information.

A self-addressed envelope if you wish for your submission to be returned to you.

Submissions should be addressed to NORRISTOWN PROJECT, Attn: Judy Hellman, Director of Special Projects City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, The Lincoln Financial Mural Arts Center at the Thomas Eakins House, 1727-29 Mount Vernon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130.

For questions about the project or the selection process, contact Judy Hellman at judy.hellman@muralarts.org. Be sure to include “Norristown Mural Project” in the subject heading.

Read more details about the project and the artist open call here or download the full RFP in our PDF section.