Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA) are requesting applications from Baltimore City-based mural artists for an inspiring, education-based mural in time for the new school year!
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is committed to creating a nation of lifelong readers by inspiring the joy of reading among all children, putting them on the path to becoming skilled readers. We provide free, high-quality content to engage children, educators, families, and literacy advocates in the solution to the U.S. literacy crisis – so that every child has the fundamentals for success. As the nation’s leading children’s literacy nonprofit, RIF has provided nearly 430 million books and reading resources to nearly 190 million children since 1966, impacting generations of children.
Project Summary:
RIF is partnering with Amazon to create a reading corner in a library in Curtis Bay Elementary in Baltimore. The goal is to create a joyful, positive environment that encourages reading and offers children the opportunity to choose from a wide selection of high-quality, diverse books. One element of this library is an accompanying mural that will showcase the joyful emotion that RIF inspires through its reading programs and content. The wall is 24' x 9' concrete.
Target Audience:
- Children in kindergarten through fifth grade (5 – 10 years old).
- Children of all races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds.
Tone:
The overall tone for the mural should be:
- Joyful
- Youthful
- Energetic
- Happy
- Vibrant
RFA Timeline:
Applications Open: Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Applications Close: Sunday, July 28, 2024 at 11:59pm
Notifications Sent/Awarded Muralist Notified: Friday, August 2, 2024
Budget:
Muralist will be awarded $10,000, all-inclusive of labor and materials.
Work Timeline:
A site visit and community engagement activities will be scheduled upon muralist hiring/contracting.
The mural must be complete before the first day of school, which is Monday, August 26, 2024. Ideal painting timeline is August 19 - 23, 2024.
Muralist Qualifications:
RIF and BOPA encourages mural applicants of all backgrounds, experience levels, and identities to apply if this opportunity sounds exciting to you. Individual muralists and muralist teams may apply.
Submission Details:
Applicants will be asked to submit the following attachments as pdf and/or image files:
1. Statement of Interest/Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. Visual portfolio of murals and/or other public art projects
4. Supporting documents such as press releases, reviews, and letters of support (optional)
Applicants will be asked to submit the following links or text field information:
1. Contact Information
2. List of 2 references minimum
3. Link to a website or online presence (optional)
4. Explanation of experience with delivering a public art project on time and within budget (please reference images of the space within the application)
Review:
Applicants will be evaluated by a selection committee made up of individuals with from RIF. The committee will review proposals and determine the muralists that may be shortlisted and may conduct interviews to make a final selection. The committee reserves the right to forgo shortlist and hire a muralist immediately.
Review Criteria:
Information submitted should focus on mural experience, passion for school/youth-focused projects, and approach for working within a similar budget. Proposals will be reviewed for compliance with the information and criteria articulated within this RFA. Proposals deemed incomplete or non-responsive will be eliminated from further consideration. Remaining proposals will then be ranked according to their relative merits as measured against the evaluation criteria below:
- Demonstrated understanding of the scope of this project
- Quality of match between qualifications, capabilities, experience, project scope, and approach
- Quality of work samples
- Expertise of the muralist/mural team
Questions/Clarifications :
Prior to submission, muralists may submit questions for the sole purpose of clarifying terms, conditions, or scope of work in this RFA. Questions will be accepted by e-mail at fclark@rif.org.
Hello, this form is for grantees of BOPA's inaugural Live! in the District grant. Please submit this form by October 31, 2024.
Hello, please complete this final report by September 1, 2024. This form is for recipients of BOPA's arts education grants for the 2023-2024 school year or prior. Please contact Twi McCallum, tmccallum@promotionandarts.org if you have any questions.
The following final report is for the Communities Thrive Organizational Project Grant agreement made by and between the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, Inc. (hereinafter “BOPA”), a non-profit organization and "granted" Baltimore City Arts & Cultural Organizations, made possible with the support of the Maryland State Arts Council. The grant was provided to support small to mid-sized arts organizations in the production and presentation of artistic works accessible to the Baltimore City public.
Through the Creative Baltimore Fund which is funded by The City of Baltimore, BOPA grants funds to qualified artists, and arts and cultural organizations based in Baltimore City. This final report is for Creative Baltimore's Mayor’s Individual Artist Award - Project Support (PS) and Baltimore General Operating Support (GOS)- which provides support for arts/cultural programs and organizations that promote public access and encourage the breadth of arts and/or cultural programming in our community.
Your completion of the final report below is important to us. The documentation and feedback that it provides is invaluable. The final installment of your grant award will be issued, after your complete final report has been received.
Final reports must be received by August 1, 2024 11:59pm (this is an EXTENSION from July 26).
Please contact Twi McCallum if you have any questions, tmccallum@promotionandarts.org