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Printmaking by the People: Request for Qualifications: Lead Artist1. Introduction Printmaking by the People – a reflection on the nation’s semi-quincentennial – is a public art project that will engage people across Philadelphia in a dialogue about how the promise of the Declaration of Independence has set the stage for life in our city and our nation today. It will result in a signature Center City mural and an exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia in 2026. Printmaking by the People will reimagine the Declaration of Independence, asking people across Philadelphia simple yet catalytic questions that arise at this moment:
The project will also reimagine printmaking’s historic role in public communication and civic dialogue, particularly its roots in Philadelphia as a means of disseminating debates and news about the movement for independence. It will embrace the tradition of poster-making as a means of political expression and advocacy. Throughout the coming year, Mural Arts will convene free workshops across the city, led by facilitators and artists, that feature small-group dialogues and hands-on printing activities that engage people in this dialogue and provide a space for them to create prints with their own messages. We are searching for an artist or a collaborative team who can lead the design of a mural that reflects on these conversations and contribute to the final exhibition and programming. In addition, artists/teams can join the workshop process and lead/participate in the mural installation, depending on their interest and availability. We are open to working with an artist/team with experience in mural design, printmaking, graphic design, poster-making and/or related creative fields. The artist/team should have a strong orientation towards public practice, as well as the ability to synthesize many voices into a coherent vision for a mural. The artist/team need not have experience in producing murals; we can build a team to support that aspect of the project if necessary. The artist/team should have a strong personal or professional connection to Philadelphia, enabling them to be a voice for the voices of the people that are collected through this project. Collaborations, including collaborations with artists outside Philadelphia, are welcomed. For more information, contact: printmaking@muralarts.org To receive information about our artist information session (schedule to be determined), please send your contact information to printmaking@muralarts.org To submit an application, visit the Mural Arts Institute’s project opportunities page. 2. About the Project Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration of Independence was written, will be a major focal point of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of its signing, and of our nation’s founding, in 2026. Printmaking by the People is Mural Arts Philadelphia’s signature project for this commemoration. While the city will be alive with celebrations that gather the attention of the nation and the world, Printmaking by the People will provide an opportunity for Philadelphians to directly participate in this milestone moment by adding their voices to the conversation about our nation’s future. The project will result in a legacy mural in a prominent, soon to be announced, Center City location, as well as an exhibition in the Free Library’s flagship Parkway Central location. The project is grounded in the living traditions of print-making and poster-making, which have historic roots in Philadelphia. Important political manifestos and graphics seeking to unite people in the revolutionary cause were circulated as printed in newspapers or as broadsides – the forerunners of posters and murals, which have long been popular forms of art associated with political advocacy and grassroots messaging. The Declaration of Independence itself was first printed in Philadelphia. In 2024, with seed funding from the Connelly Foundation, Mural Arts organized a network of collaborating printmaking organizations and commissioned nearly a dozen artists to help test workshop designs in various formats. Based on those experiences, Mural Arts has developed two models that it will replicate throughout this coming year – an “immersive” two-hour workshop that will be scheduled in publicly accessible locations like libraries, and a “pop-up” experience that can be organized for events like street festivals. In both the “immersive” and “pop-up” models, participants will create prints and/or posters that reflect on the questions at the heart of this project. We expect the artist/team’s engagement with the project to last about a year, starting in time to participate in these workshops and the planning of the exhibition that will accompany the mural. Design would occur in the fall of this year, with production planning and installation to occur in the first half of 2026. Mural Arts has worked for more than 40 years to unite artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives. The project has been supported from its early stages of development by Philadelphia250, whose mission is to support programs and events that bring this milestone commemoration to Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, showcasing their culture, history and contributions to the fabric of the city and the nation. Visit Philadelphia, which is leading the City’s efforts to welcome visitors, helped catalyze early foundation support and remains a partner. The Free Library of Philadelphia is providing venues for its workshops at its branches throughout the city, and producing an exhibition that will be staged at its flagship location, Parkway Central.
3. Scope of Work, Budget and Schedule Artist Scope of Work A. Design Signature Mural
B. Collaborate on Public Programming Around Development and Completion of Mural and Exhibition In addition, the artist/team is expected to support Mural Arts programming and public communications related to the project. These are core scope items:
C. Support / Advise Printmaking Workshops The artist/team will join the project as the immersive and pop-up workshops, led by numerous Philadelphia artists, are underway. Depending on the artist/team’s interest and availability, the artist/team can play a role in shaping the direction of workshops and can participate in them.
D. Produce and Install Signature Mural While we encourage artist/teams to be involved in the installation/painting of the mural, we can build a team to support that work. The following responsibilities will be assigned to the artist/team or to the Mural Arts project management team, depending on the artist/team’s capability, interest and availability. These are optional scope items:
Editions We recognize that for many printmakers, a core aspect of their work is the art and craft of making editions, whether limited editions of fine art prints or larger runs of poster-type prints. We will encourage the artist/team to consider how their mural design concepts can also be produced as editions, and collaborate on developing strategies for how those editions can be sold, exhibited, installed as temporary public art, and otherwise made accessible to the public. Budget The budget for the design and the production of the mural will be a minimum of $100,000. This will include all artist and artist assistant fees, materials, supplies and equipment. This budget will be re-assessed once a wall for the mural is confirmed. The fee for the artist/team’s services for the “Design Signature Mural” and the “Collaborate on Public Programming” (scope items A and B outlined in the above section) will be $6,000. The fee for artist/team’s services for other scope elements, “Support / Advise Printmaking Workshops” and “Produce and Install Signature Mural” (scope items C and D outlined above) will be negotiated based on the artist/team’s involvement in those tasks. Schedule This is our best estimate of the schedule:
4. Artist Selection Process Eligibility Criteria This opportunity is open to any artist who meets the Eligibility Criteria listed in this section and the Qualifications listed below.
Process Artists/teams are requested to submit a letter of interest and portfolio, as described below. Artist submissions will be reviewed by an Advisory Committee consisting of artistic advisors, who will identify a short list of finalists according to the review criteria outlined below. The Committee will interview finalists and make a recommendation based on the interviews, the qualifications that have been submitted, and conversations with references. The Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia will review the Committee’s recommendation and make the final determination of the selection. Qualifications and Review Criteria Artist/team letters of interest will be reviewed using the following criteria:
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Printmaking by the People – a reflection on the nation’s semi-quincentennial – is a public art project that will engage people across Philadelphia in a dialogue about how the promise of the Declaration of Independence has set the stage for life in our city and our nation today. It will result in a signature Center City mural and an exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia in 2026. Printmaking by the People will reimagine the Declaration of Independence, asking people across Philadelphia simple yet catalytic questions that arise at this moment:
The project will also reimagine printmaking’s historic role in public communication and civic dialogue, particularly its roots in Philadelphia as a means of disseminating debates and news about the movement for independence. It will embrace the tradition of poster-making as a means of political expression and advocacy. Throughout the coming year, Mural Arts will convene free workshops across the city, led by facilitators and artists, that feature small-group dialogues and hands-on printing activities that engage people in this dialogue and provide a space for them to create prints with their own messages. See more in full description.
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The work of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is made possible through the generous support of committed individuals and institutions. |
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