Albany Murals Project

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2023-header-08

The Albany Murals Project aims to enhance the visual landscape of Albany, to preserve and enrich Albany’s cultural environment, and to promote community engagement through the creation of vibrant and exciting public murals.

This Call for Artists is for the inaugural installation: murals on four columns supporting the BART tracks on the Ohlone Greenway. The Ohlone Greenway is a bicycle and pedestrian path that runs directly beneath elevated BART tracks beginning at Ohlone Park in Berkeley and continuing through Albany, El Cerrito, and Richmond. The path is not only a highly used commuting corridor; it is a recreation destination and urban trail that weaves together a number of parks and green spaces.

Submissions closed on June 20, 2024 at 4pm, but stay tuned there will be additional mural projects in Albany starting in 2025.

Note: Only digital submissions received as one single PDF will be accepted. No physically mailed submissions will be accepted. Proposals not received by the deadline will not be accepted. Implementation of this project is subject to approval through the BART permit process, and implementation of this project is not guaranteed until the BART permit is issued.

For more information about the project, direct inquiries to Jeremy Allen, jeallen@albanyca.org, 510-559-7223.

Location 1: BART Pillars

Mural Theme

The “Gateways” theme for this public art installation is a vivid celebration of intersections–both literal and metaphorical. It's embodied in the artful transformation of pillars into vibrant portals, each beckoning viewers to embark on a journey through a rich tapestry of culture, history, and ecology. These murals stand as sentinels, each one a gateway to exploration, understanding, and connection, transcending their physical form to become storytellers. This theme is an embrace of diversity and inclusivity, a reflection of the community's collective journey through its past, present, and envisioned future.

Project Locations & Specifications

The mural will be installed on 4 BART columns supporting the BART tracks at the intersection of Solano Avenue and Masonic Avenue (two columns North of Solano and two columns South of Solano). Mural artwork must cover approximately 432 square feet of surface area on 4 pillars with 6 sides, each 3 feet wide and 6 feet high. Artwork should consider the general context and translate well from all various viewing angles. Please note that there must be a cohesive aesthetic across the pillars. A final determination of the space available for the artwork on the pillars will be designated by BART.

The mural should be two dimensional and should not make use of or simulate colors or combinations of colors usually reserved for official traffic control devices. The mural should not display text, display symbols or icons, such as but not limited to flags, logos, symbols, messages, recognizable living person, e.g., no tribute murals.

Implementation of this project is subject to approval through the BART permit process, and implementation of this project is not guaranteed until the BART permit is issued.

Budget

The total budget for the proposed project should not exceed $25,000 including the artist fees, equipment, materials, and all production costs.

Time Commitment

Artist will commit to participate in the development and presentation of the proposal and project per an agreed-upon timeline. Artist will create a schedule in collaboration with the City.

Public Presentation of the Completed Mural

Upon completion of the artwork installation, the selected artist or artist team shall prepare and provide a public presentation of the work, including a demonstration or description of the methodology and techniques used in the development of the work. This presentation shall be organized with the assistance of City staff to address a diverse audience and will be scheduled on a day and time to be attended by as many park users and members of the public as possible.

Project Timeline

Applications due: June 20, 2024 (submissions closed)
Notification of finalist: September 2024
Finalist proposal due: October 2024
Community Outreach: November 2024 - January 2025
Finalist interview: December 2024
Notification of Artist Selected: February/March 2025
Installation complete: September 2025

*Please note that this is an estimated timeline and is subject to change.

Eligibility

How to Apply & Deadline

Submissions closed on June 20, 2024 at 4pm, but stay tuned there will be additional mural projects in Albany starting in 2025.

Application Checklist

Letter of Interest (the letter should be one-page maximum) that includes:

Summary of your interest/practice as an artist (3-4 sentences).
Career highlights (awards, important exhibits, etc.); list no more than 3 or 4.
Summary of past or current experience that may relate to the skills or experience needed for this project.
If you are collaborating with another artist, address the reason for the collaboration.

Three samples of previous work that relate to this project.
Resume / CV
Artwork Proposal including a brief description of the project you envision (max. 250 words).
Supplementary materials that you feel may be applicable including documentation, slides, video, and audio. No original artwork will be accepted.

Only digital submissions received as one single PDF will be accepted. No physically mailed submissions will be accepted. Incomplete or incorrectly assembled applications may not be accepted.

Collectives and artist collaborations are welcome to apply in addition to individual artists. Neither the Albany Arts Committee nor the City of Albany staff may be held responsible for lost, missing, or damaged materials submitted.

The City of Albany reserves the right to refuse all entries. Proposals not received by the deadline will not be accepted.

Selection Process & Criteria

A Selection Panel will review all applications and recommend one submission from those that meet the specifications described in this Call for Artists. The Selection Panel’s decisions are subject to approval by the Albany Arts Committee.

The criteria to be used in selecting the finalist are as follows:

Artistic merit (excellence, originality) as evidenced by representation of relevant past work in slides and other supporting material.

Appropriateness of the artist’s medium, style, and experience in relation to the project goals and settings.

Responsiveness of the application narrative to the specifications of this Call for Artists.

Experience with projects of a similar scale and scope and/or adequate professional experience (studio and employment experience included) to fulfill the requirements of this project.

Experience should include familiarity with public agencies, the public review process, and/or collaboration with city agencies and community groups. Artists must have good communication skills and be able to work with diverse city representatives and community members.

Completeness of the proposal package, including design sketches, drawings, and images to convey the finished installation, public interactivity features, and adaptability to existing conditions.

Capacity to improve the overall appearance of the vicinity and to create a community asset and sense of place.

Demonstrated ability to recognize, honor, and link together significant historic, cultural, and natural resources representative of a site and surrounding community.

Availability to fabricate and install the project during the time period identified for this project.

Process for Finalists

Finalist will be asked to provide a design of the work for which the artist will receive an honorarium. The Finalist must meet the following requirements:

Submit a model or drawing of the proposed design by the deadline announced when the finalist is selected. This model or drawing will be displayed publicly at Albany Community Center and at the proposed mural location for a public comment period prior to the artist’s presentation of the design to the Arts Committee.

Provide a budget and a materials list.

Present the design to the Arts Committee.

If recommended by the Arts Committee, present the design to the City Council for final approval.

Acceptance of Proposals

The Albany Arts Committee and the City of Albany reserve the right to reject all applications and design proposals submitted in response to this Call for Artists as well as the right not to award any contracts for this project. This Call for Artists does not constitute an agreement to fund artwork for the site described above. All information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The provision of this Call for Artists is subject to change.

Retentions of proposal Materials & Design

If an artist is provided an honorarium to develop drawings and/or a model of a proposal, the following policy shall apply:

a) The City of Albany, at its sole discretion, has the unconditional right to maintain ownership of any model, drawing or other materials used for its evaluation and selection process, as part of commission awards.

b) The City of Albany may at its option choose to retain all such requested models, drawings and other materials until completion and final approval of the project installation, at which time such materials may be returned to the artist.

Models, designs, and proposals submitted shall be original, and unique in design and fabrication, and shall convey the proposal concept with reasonable accuracy, scale, and detail.

For more information about the project, direct inquiries to Jeremy Allen, jeallen@albanyca.org, 510-559-7223

City of Albany, CA

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