The Downtown Mural Program Selection Committee is seeking qualifications from artists or artist teams for the commission of several outdoor public murals in the Town of Spencer, NC. The Town expects to select at least two artists or artist teams to contribute murals to an ongoing mural walk project. The exact number of artists selected, and the number of murals commissioned is subject to change based on the Town’s discretion, budget, and location availability. The murals will be located throughout Spencer’s downtown and are created with the aim of enhancing connectivity between cultural and economic assets in Spencer’s town center. The Town is considering other locations for murals in downtown Spencer, and the Town may reach out to artists not chosen for the two locations in question, for another associated mural project. If the artist is not interested in being considered for other mural locations, they should state so in their application. Artists and artist teams are welcome to express interest in completing one mural and/or a series of murals. This is a qualifications-based selection process; artists will develop concepts after they are selected based on their experience, artistry, alignment with the program’s goals, and demonstrated interest. Artists will work extensively with both the Town of Spencer, the Spencer Mural Selection Committee, and potentially certain experts to develop mural concepts and concept work. As all of downtown Spencer is within a historic district, the final concept work will need to receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) as well as final approval from the Spencer Board of Aldermen (the elected town council). The Committee will select artists with consideration to their entire portfolio of walls with the aim of having a variety of artistic styles, mural themes, and artistic backgrounds represented. We welcome applications from seasoned muralists, local artists, as well as national and international artists. The Committee is especially interested in receiving submissions from artists with experience and interest in collaborative, community-based mural projects that build social ties, represent diversity, and/or develop a sense of communal ownership of public spaces. Preference will be given to North Carolina artists or artists with a strong North Carolina connection. Tying this whole project together will be a digital guide accessed through onsite QR codes which will give visitors access to digital content including interviews with historians and the artists, footage of the mural creation process, custom filters, photographs, audio, and augmented reality features. Artists will be asked to give their permission to be filmed and participate in interviews and related project development, as well as to document the mural creation process themselves. Please refer to Charlotte South End Mural Walk as an example of this technology in action. All materials shall be submitted to Skye Allan by email at sallan@spencernc.gov in a single PDF document by Monday 11/18/ 2024 at 5 PM. The Town of Spencer and the Spencer Mural Selection Committee reserve the right to change the project timeline. To see the application guidelines visit, www.artsorange.org For more information on the Town of Spencer, visit www.spencernc.gov or call 704-633-2231