INTRODUCTION: 2 STAGE RFP
The Victoria Avenue Business Improvement Association (VCBIA) located in the tourism district of Niagara Falls, Ontario, is seeking an artist to create a painted mural in the alleyway connecting Ellen Avenue and Victoria Avenue. This initiative aims to enrich the visitor and public experience in this tourist area.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this project is to enhance the visitor and public experience with an educational or historical mural in the alleyway, providing a visually engaging pathway between Ellen Avenue and Victoria Avenue.
LOCATION
The mural will be located on the west side wall of the building between 5691 Victoria Avenue (Always Antique Photo) and 5693 Victoria Avenue, transforming the alleyway into a vibrant and culturally significant space. One side of the wall already has a mural on it, this mural will be on the other side.
REQUEST
The VCBIA seeks to commission an artist to paint a mural to enrich the public experience for pedestrians walking from the parking lot to the tourist area. We are seeking an inspiring artist who will collaborate with the BIA to bring this vision to life. The BIA, in partnership with the building owner, is prepared to cover all costs associated with the project, including wall preparation, lighting, and the artist's time and labour.
MURAL SIZE
- 40 feet long
- Two level heights.
- 20 feet long 8 feet high
- 20 feet long 20 feet high
THEMES:
Proposals for mural designs are invited to explore a diverse range of themes, including historic narratives, indigenous culture, and floral motifs. While submissions centred around any of these themes will be given thorough consideration, there is a particular interest in proposals that delve into our community's rich historical background. Muralists are encouraged to infuse their designs with elements that reflect the unique stories and traditions of indigenous peoples, as well as the vibrant beauty of local flora. While historical themes are favoured, we recognize the value of embracing the cultural diversity and creativity inherent in all three themes. Each theme offers an opportunity to enrich our neighbourhood's visual landscape and engage viewers in meaningful dialogue about our shared heritage and aspirations.
VIEWER ENGAGEMENT
The mural should incorporate elements that encourage engagement from viewers, inviting them to interact with the artwork and take photos. This may include opportunities for viewers to position themselves within the mural or interact with specific elements, creating memorable photo opportunities and enhancing the overall experience of the space.
With these themes and the focus on viewer engagement, the mural will not only beautify the alleyway but also serve as a source of inspiration, education, and community pride.
STREET ART MURAL BUDGET
The budget for this project is not predetermined. Proposals should include all costs associated with the project, including artist fees, design and fabrication, technical consultation, installation, travel expenses, attendance at VCBIA meetings, taxes, and any other relevant expenses. All fees must be quoted in Canadian dollars.
Site Preparation:
The artist shall not bear the budget for the preparation of the site. The VCBIA will handle all necessary site preparation tasks. Applicant to provide the necessary preparation requirements.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
- Individual applicants must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
- Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or have an application pending for permanent resident status, and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
SUBMISSION PROCESS:
• A maximum of three artists will be chosen to proceed to stage 2. Only those selected will be notified. Email submissions to [email protected]
SELECTION PROCESS
A two-stage competition will be implemented.
STAGE ONE
Request for Pre-Qualification. The Victora Centre Business Association will review all submissions of credentials. Artists will then be shortlisted based on relevant professional credentials, including demonstrated public art experience, as referred to in the artist's background below.
STAGE TWO
Request for Proposal. The VCBIA will review the shortlist and invite a maximum of three artists to respond to a Request for Proposal. Artists will be asked to include coloured concept drawings and an artist statement, to be further considered in the selection process. An honorarium of $500 will be paid to each of the three respondents who made the shortlist. At the final stage of the selection process, the Art Committee will review the proposals and recommend an artist for the award of the commission.
Artists selected in Stage 1 will be notified via email that they’ve been selected to move on to Stage 2. The artists selected to submit coloured drawings for Stage 2 will receive a $500 honorarium upon submission of a complete, submission, as outlined below.
STAGE ONE (Initial Application)
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Résumé: send a two-page summary of your most recent qualifications and artistic activities. Please include the address of your website or any social media accounts that show off your art. Please keep in mind that our attention will be on the composition and execution of the mural.
- Samples of Your Work: Include three pictures of past work that you think best show off your best work. Keep in mind that all photos have to be in JPEG format.
- Image List: Include the title of the piece of art, the size, when it was made, and location.
- Budget: Please note that transportation, incidentals, and additional costs per diem are not applicable to this project.
- The proposed timeline should include revisions, preparation of mural space, installation of mural, and any additional work needed.
- Artist References: Provide three names of references that would be able to generally speak to your experience related to public art projects or other related projects.
STAGE TWO (Short List Selection)
SUBMISSION PROCESS
• A maximum of three artists will be chosen to proceed to stage 2. Only those selected will be notified. Email all submissions to [email protected]
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
All stage two submissions must adhere to the following specifications:
- Please submit a preliminary-coloured drawing. Please note, this is intended to be a rough sketch only and shall not be larger than 11”x17” in page size.
- Artwork Concept Statement: Please write down an outline of the idea for the mural. This should be approximately a 500-word statement about the artist's approach to the project and how they want the public to understand and interpret the proposed artwork.
- Only paint medium will be used for the mural.
- Artwork may not include logos, company names, etc.
- The artwork must be suitable for presentation in a public space, for all ages (i.e., the artwork may not contain profanity, hate speech, graphic imagery, etc.).
- Artists are encouraged to consider graffiti deterrence measures when developing their designs. Please avoid large areas of solid colours and/or white space.
- The mural application must take into consideration being exposed to the elements and be treated to obtain longevity.
- Price to allow up to 2 revisions to the artwork submitted.
Selection Process
The Selection Committee reserves the right to not recommend any proposal or finalist and/or to terminate or re-advertise this project.
Scoring Criteria
- The artist's submission fits with the public art opportunity's goals and themes.
- The submission gives confidence that the work will be done on time, on budget, and in a way that will allow it to survive in its new location.
- The idea and proposed work clearly show the artist's one-of-a-kind point of view, demonstrating their skill in creating murals.
- The artist's submission gives confidence that they can do the work that is being proposed.
AWARD
The successful artist will be awarded 60% payment upon commencement of the project and another 40% upon completion and final cleanup.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Artist Agreement
The successful artist will be required to sign an agreement with the VCIBA. Upon notification of winning the commission, the successful artist will have a 30-day period to work with the VCBIA to finalize and sign the agreement. If an agreement cannot be reached within 30 days, we may award the commission to the second highest-scoring artist and allow 30 days for that artist to finalize and sign the agreement or cancel and re-issue the call.
Copyright
Artwork must be original and cannot infringe on the copyright of any other individual/company.
KEY DATES
STAGE ONE: application due by 5 pm, Monday, May 20th, 2024.
- shortlist notification by 5 pm, Monday, May 27th, 2024.
STAGE TWO: The artist's creative draft submission is due by 5 pm, Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024.
- On July 8th, 2024, the chosen artist will receive a notification by 5 p.m.
FINAL STAGE: The finalist enters into an agreement with the VCBIA, July 15, 2024.
- approximate start date will be in the month of September
CONCLUSION
The VCBIA eagerly awaits proposals from talented artists who share our commitment to enhancing the public realm through vibrant and culturally significant artwork. We look forward to collaborating with the selected artist to realize this exciting mural project and create an unforgettable experience for residents and visitors alike.
We eagerly anticipate your creative submissions.
EMAIL ALL SUBMISSIONS OR ANY QUESTIONS TO: