Request for Proposals: Mural
Captain John Palliser School
Call to Artists: Request for Proposals (RFP)
Project: Captain John Palliser School Outdoor Mural(s)
Artist fee: $5,000 each for up to five (5) artists
Proposal Deadline: September 27, 2024
The budget must include all supplies, creation and/or installation; time to meet with small student focus group; time to consult with other artists to work out overarching cohesion of murals; potential mini-residency at the school to showcase your art style.
Captain John Palliser School (CJP): We envision a school community which values and respects diversity, human development and learning. Our work fully engages all students, honours individual strengths and interests, and provides meaningful, rich learning experiences.
CJP School Council: The council advises the principal and school board on matters relating to the school and shares information and ideas with Alberta Education. They ensure parent and community perspectives are represented in school decision-making. All parents and guardians of CJP students are automatically members of the School Council.
CJP Parents Association: The CJP Parents Association is a group of parents and guardians, incorporated under the Societies Act for the purpose of raising funds to enhance learning at the school.
The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) is the public school board in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. From kindergarten to Grade 12, the CBE operates a variety of programs and services to benefit each and every student.
Project Brief
Captain John Palliser School is inviting local artists to submit proposals to create original artwork for outdoor murals on the front of the school in the community of Brentwood, facing south and Northmount Drive. We are specifically seeking up to five (5) artists to paint a mural on one of the five outdoor panels. Each mural will be in the unique style of the artist as part of a cohesive collection on the theme of community, belonging and connection.
One mural, 12’ wide by 8’ high, is made up of three wooden panels, 4’ wide by 8’ high. There are currently four murals, there is space for five.
CJP students were asked to brainstorm using the following prompts:
- What does “belonging” and “community” mean?
- What does “belonging” and “community” look like?
- What does “belonging” and “community” sound like?
- What pictures or symbols represent or show “belonging” and “community”?
- What makes you feel like you belong at CJP?
- What makes you feel like you don’t belong at CJP?
- What is unique or special about CJP’s community?
- What is CJP’s community missing?
- Sketch what new mural you would create (individual or group)
The commissioned artist(s) will be responsible for developing content and creating designs that incorporate some, or all, of the following themes:
- Belonging
- Community and connection
- Nature
The student responses to the above prompts are documented in the following link.
The school has a school song, give it a listen here. The school also has an honour song, follow this link to learn more about it.
Please feel free to explore and use this information in your research.
Eligibility
Applicants for this opportunity must meet the following criteria:
- Individuals from Treaty 7, Métis, settlers, immigrants are all welcome.
- Should ideally live in the Calgary area (travel costs are not paid)
- Must be 17 years or older (students currently in grade 11 will be considered)
- May be an artist or an artist team
Considerations for the Artwork
The mural is located on the outside wall of the front of the school, on a busy public road, Northmount Drive NW. It will be seen by parents and children, Elders, staff, volunteers, and community members.
Fabrication
The artist will be responsible for creating and submitting digital files or drawings of their art designs. The artist will be responsible for the creation and painting of the designs on the mural. All materials and supplies should be included in the project budget.
Artists should be aware that the artwork is subject to damage by the elements/weather. It is a south facing wall that gets constant sunshine. There is not much of an overhang to protect from rain and snowfall. In the event of damage, CJP would make every effort to re-engage the artist under a separate contract to correct damage or recreate areas.
Artwork must not contain content in breach of any intellectual property, trademarks, or brands.
Budget
The commissioned artist will receive a set amount CDN.
Budget: $5,000 per mural panel.
Supplies and installation costs are included in this fee. $2,500 will be paid upon being awarded the contract and $2,500 on completion.
Selection Process
Proposals will be reviewed by a committee that will include the voices of school administration, teachers, students, School Council, parents, and Brentwood community members. They will base their selection on the following criteria:
- Artistic merit, including quality of work, originality, and esthetic fit and understanding of the project theme.
- Qualifications and professional experience of the artist and their ability to execute a project of this scale within the budget, timeline and criteria developed.
Ideally we would like to have five (5) artists, having representation from a combination of Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuut’ina Nation, Stony Nakoda, Métis, settler and immigrant. Each artist will represent the theme in their own style, while working together as a group to find cohesion.
The CJP selection committee reserves the right to select and retain the artist deemed most appropriate for the project at its sole discretion.
Anticipated schedule
It is expected that the commissioned artist(s) will comply with the project’s general timeline dates, as highlighted below:
- May 2024: Call for submissions
- June 30, 2024: Deadline for clarification questions on project and response to questions shared with all
- September 27, 2024: Deadline for Artist Proposals, 4pm MT
- October 2024: Review of proposals
- November 2024: Choosing of finalist and notification
- January 2025: Project implementation
- June 2025: Project completion
Submission Requirements
Please read all the components of the RFP prior to completing your submission. A complete submission package includes the following documentation in PDF format:
- Artist statement: a two-page maximum written statement of the theme the artist wishes to explore and how it relates to the student brainstorming.
- Up to ten digital images of the proposed artwork including: renderings, concept sketches, applicable 3D visualization and any other related images.
- Artist CV and up to five images of examples of previous work: please highlight relevant experiences on projects similar or directly related to the environment we have proposed.
- References: include contact name, title, organization, phone number and email address for two references who can speak to the artist’s art practice and/or experience of art in public places.
Please note that proposals will not be returned.
Funding for this project will be secured through grants and CJP PA fundraising efforts. The project could be postponed or canceled if funding is not attained.
Please send questions and submissions by email, subject: CJP Mural Project, to cjp.playground@gmail.com.
