The City of Simpsonville population continues to grow, as does leisurely enjoyment in downtown.
City Hall wants the city to pop while instilling a sense of pride to visitors.
Artists are being sought to participate in the creation of two murals along South Main Street.
According to Justin Campbell, Community Relations Specialist, “The City is looking for artists who can capture the small-town charm of Simpsonville in artwork that further elevates downtown as a destination for people to shop, eat and fellowship."
Artists must be at least 18 years old in order to submit, possess a strong portfolio and have experience in creating murals.
Qualifications are due June 30 at www.simpsonville.com. A selection committee will notify a winning artist or artists in July.
The murals are expected to be completed in October.
Request for Qualifications from the City of Simpsonville below:
Call Type: Public Art
Eligibility: National
State: South Carolina
Submission Deadline: June 30, 2020
Contact: Dianna Gracely, City Administrator
Contact Email: dianna@simpsonville.com
Contact Phone: 864-967-9526
PROJECT DETAILS & BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The City of Simpsonville is a municipality of more than 23,000 people in Greenville County.
Downtown Simpsonville is retaining its small-town charm in the midst of positive smart growth with recent improvements, such as an alleyway with an outdoor seating area and new leg of the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
One of the two murals to be commissioned will be located on a wall bordering the alleyway. Simpsonville rebranded in 2019 with the new tagline “Simply Home,” new logo and new icon.
THEME
While the artist/s will have artistic freedom to explore the themes of their choosing, the chosen theme should capture the small-town charm of the City of Simpsonville and evoke a sense of pride in residents and awe in visitors.
The City’s tagline “Simply Home” is a great starting point for conceiving a theme.
INTERACTIVITY
The murals should contain elements of interactivity that encourage the public to engage with the artwork. The artist/s should create murals that present photo opportunities to the public in unique and innovative ways.
LOCATIONS
One mural will be located in the alleyway off South Main Street.
The second mural will be located on the opposite side of the same building, facing visitors as they come into downtown on the Swamp Rabbit Trail or along South Main Street.
ELIGIBILITY
Artists who are at least 18 years old are eligible to respond to the Request for Qualifications.
Artists who possess a strong portfolio of work, have experience in conceiving, designing and creating murals and are able to work within a prescribed budget are encouraged to respond to the RFQ.
Experience working in downtowns and/or with local government is preferred.
PROJECT BUDGET
The budget for each mural is $5,000. The allotted budget includes all artist fees, costs associated with design, fabrication and creation, all tools and materials required, travel, transportation to the site, site preparation, insurance, installation, shipping and transporting materials to the site, mural protective coating, equipment needed for installation, applicable taxes, time spent in progress meetings and any other costs incurred by the artist for the projects. Artists will be asked to develop an all-inclusive itemized budget as part of the proposal submission.
Responses to the RFQ may be submitted electronically by emailing submissions to City Administrator Dianna Gracely at dianna@simpsonville.com or mailing the response to the below address:
Attn: Dianna Gracely
Re: RFQ Murals
118 N.E. Main St.
Simpsonville, S.C. 29681
NOTE: Submitted materials will not be returned, and incomplete applications may not be considered.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
All materials must be received by 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on June 30, 2020; incomplete or late submissions will not be considered.
QUESTIONS
Please direct all questions or requests for assistance to City Administrator Dianna Gracely at dianna@simpsonville.com.
Press release from Justin Campbell, Community Relations Specialist, for the City of Simpsonville below:
Simpsonville, S.C. — As the City of Simpsonville continues to grow and transform into a destination area, City Hall is seeking artists to create murals in downtown Simpsonville.
The City issued on Monday a request for qualifications from artists to conceive, design and create two murals on South Main Street.
One mural will be located in the alleyway, while the second will be located on the opposite side of the same building.
Community relations specialist Justin Campbell said the murals should evoke a “sense of pride” in residents and “awe” in visitors.
“The City is looking for artists who can capture the small-town charm of Simpsonville in artwork that further elevates downtown as a destination for people to shop, eat and fellowship,” Campbell said.
Submissions for the request for qualifications are due June 30. A selection committee comprised of city officials, local artists and business owners will score the submissions and notify the winning artist or artists in July.
Campbell said the finished artwork should contain an element of engagement.
“We want the public to interact with the murals, such as taking photos or selfies with them to share on social media,” Campbell said.
Artists who are at least 18 years old, possess a strong portfolio of work and have experience in conceiving, designing and creating murals are eligible to submit responses.
Completion of the murals is scheduled for October. Anyone eligible to submit
can access the request for qualifications on www.simpsonville.com.
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