Art South Announces Artist Call for Mural Project

Fort Worth’s Near Southside community art program, Art South, in partnership with developers CRG/Clayco, has issued an open call for artists to submit qualification for a $50,000 art project.

Art South seeks to commission an artist for a mural on the concrete facade of a 5-story parking garage at CRG/Clayco’s multi-family project, Broadway Chapter, currently under construction at 401 Hemphill Street in Fort Worth, Texas. The garage façade that will host the mural is comprised of five horizontal concrete bands, separated by open air segments dedicated to ventilation. The mural walls are estimated to total 5,000 square feet in surface area.

Photo courtesy of Near Southside, Inc.

The call to submit qualifications is open to all Texas-based artists with previous large-format experience in artwork 12’ x 12’ or greater. Interested artists are asked to apply by Friday, February 19. It is important to note, Art South is not seeking proposals. Near Southside strongly believes that artists should be paid for both their production and conceptual work. Artists who are selected as finalists will be issued a stipend to develop a project concept. The artist awarded the commission will receive a $25,000 artist fee and access to a $5,000 discretionary budget that can be used for painting support staff or materials. In addition, CRG/Clayco will provide the artist with paint, a mechanical lift, and lift operator for the project within a not-to-exceed budget of $20,000.

Project brief: portal.nearsouthsidefw.org/downloads/Broadway_Chapter_RFQ_Project_Brief.pdf

Apply: https://www.nearsouthsidefw.org/projects/broadway-chapter-art-commission

The goal is to create an iconic piece of public art that is engaging, inspiring, and representative of the Near Southside’s unique culture. The commissioned artist is asked to draw thematic inspiration from the Near Southside community’s diversity, grit, and ambition. Using a collaborative approach, the artist should involve the public, as needed, and consider the Art South and CRG/Clayco team as partners. The artist will retain control of the artistic vision – as we are not proposing a design by committee or design by community process. However, through thoughtful assessment and collaboration the artist can provide community impact. Murals tell stories, create experiences, inspire engagement, increase foot traffic, welcome tourism, spark appreciation for the arts and artists, and improve attractiveness of the place. These are principles the Near Southside holds true and expects the artist to as well.