Promote The Vote – Mural Projects

The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) will commission up to ten temporary murals in traditionally marginalized/hard to count communities throughout Montgomery County, MD, to encourage these residents to vote in the 2020 election. 

Concept 

  • Artists/designers will be commissioned and paid by AHCMC to design, create, and install temporary murals  
  • Artists may work in any media they can temporarily install outdoors without causing damage to the mounted structure/wall
  • Murals may only include one word, VOTE 
    • VOTE may be translated into any language representative of the community, and may appear multiple times, but no other text is allowable
  • No partisanship messaging or imagery allowed 
  • Selected artists will publicize their installation on social media with guidance from AHCMC staff
  • AHCMC will publicize selected installations on its website and social media platforms
  • Safe community involvement encouraged for concepts and installation
  • AHCMC will provide recommendations for mural site selection; however, applicants may also recommend potential mural sites within hard to count communities based on this map
  • Projects must be completed by October 20, 2020
  • Temporary murals must be:
    • Installed at approximately 100 square feet (10′ x 10′) 
    • In a highly public place 
    • At eye level 
    • Able to be removed or painted over after the November 2020 Election without damaging the original structure/wall

      Artist Eligibility 

      All professional visual artists over the age of 18 and based in Montgomery County, MD are eligible

      • Montgomery County-based artists currently admitted to the AHCMC Wall Artist Roster may submit up to (3) Let’s Promote The Vote designs
      • Artists based in Montgomery County that are not currently admitted to the AHCMC Wall Artist Roster are asked to submit their resume and (3) previous work samples in addition to a maximum of (3) Let’s Promote The Vote designs in order to be considered for both this call and admittance to the AHCMC Wall Artist Roster
      • The first 100 artists/designers submitting concept proposals will be paid a flat $50 stipend for any/all design concepts
      • AHCMC will choose designs from the submissions to display on our website
        • AHCMC reserves the right to post design submissions publicly 
      • Previous experience with murals or public art not required
      • Personal liability insurance for applicants strongly encouraged, but is not required or provided by AHCMC
      • Artists capable of producing imagery that can be translated to a temporary mural may apply – painting, graphic design, drawing and illustration, and similar media are welcome
      • Artists/designers are required to install their own work or have their work professionally installed
        • AHCMC will not provide installation or fabrication assistance, but may be consulted

      Commission

      Selected artists will be paid a commission of $1,500 to include the artist fee, materials, supplies, transportation, fabrication, and one installation. 

      • The first 100 artists/designers submitting concept proposals will be paid a flat $50 stipend for any/all design concepts

      Schedule 

      • September 11 – Call to Artists issued 
      • September 25, 11:59PM – Submissions due 
      • Week of September 28 – Submissions reviewed 
      • Week of October 5 – Begin installations
      • October 20 – Completion of projects

      Application

      Applications should include all of the following:

      • 1-3 proposed design(s)/renderings(s)/sketch(es)
      • Narrative/description for each concept (150 word limit each)
      • List of needed materials and installation plan/overview for each concept
      • Artist availability for installation between October 5th and October 20th
      • Brief plan to safely involve the community in the design and/or installation (150 word limit each)
        • Virtual/online engagement accepted
      • Installation site preference, up to 3 locations based on this map
      • Reminder – Applicants not currently admitted to the AHCMC Wall Artist Roster must also submit a resume and up to three work samples in addition to the application materials.
      • ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American) artists highly encouraged to apply

      Apply

      Submit all clearly labeled materials via Drop Box using this link – Upload Applications Here

      • Please clearly label all files with the artist’s full name for all application materials
        • Example – Jane Martinez Proposal 1.pdf
        • Example – Jerome Smith Resume and Work Samples.pdf
        • When possible, please consolidate all files into one pdf containing the design, narrative, availability and community involvement plan for each proposal clearly labeled with the artist’s full name.
      • PDF, JPEG, MP4 and PNG files preferred

          Please send all questions and inquiries to publicart@creativemoco.com