Request for Proposals: Art Mural

Artistic Rendering of the 85-Year History of the
North Carolina Council of Churches

Statement of Purpose

The North Carolina Council of Churches will celebrate its 85th Anniversary in 2020. Founded by eight Christian denominations in 1935 with the common vision of addressing racial inequality, the Council has grown to include 18 denominations, pursuing justice through the lens of faith. To help us celebrate our rich history, the Council will commission an 85th Anniversary Mural to highlight the impact and scope of the Council’s work throughout North Carolina. We are seeking to:

• Engage the North Carolina artist community.
• Select a dedicated and qualified artist or artist team.
• Create a two-dimensional mural, perhaps in several panels, that can move throughout the state for our anniversary celebration events.
• Include some degree community engagement.

Application Requirements

• The artist(s) must live in North Carolina at the time the proposal is submitted or be affiliated with a local artist guild or council.
• A narrative and design illustrating the concept including supplemental information such as medium, timeline for completion, and approximate dimensions of the proposed mural.
• Supporting materials, including images and reviews of previously completed works, are encouraged. Digital submission is preferable. References for earlier projects are encouraged.
• The project budget should not exceed $8,000 for an artist or team of collaborative artists.
• The budget should include the artist(s) fee, supplies, travel-related expenses, design installation, and other associated costs.
• The submission deadline is September 13, 2019. Please submit electronic proposals to michelle@ncchurches.org with the subject line, “85th Anniversary Mural.”

Project description

We would like the mural to be painted on fabric or another medium that would allow us to move it from place to place without being damaged. The medium should also take into consideration our intention of having the mural professionally reproduced. The dimensions could be constrained by transportation limits, however, if the mural is produced in a series of panels, the completed piece could be larger. This project could go in a few different directions and we are keen to hear the artists’ ideas around some of our thoughts.

1. One option: The entire piece be completed before our initial event in March 2020 and be on display at each subsequent event. For this option the deadline would be February 14, 2020. 
2. Second option: The piece can be completed in stages with the mural and the Council history unfolding as we travel across the state for each monthly event. The final mural will be unveiled at the Grand Anniversary Celebration in Raleigh, October 2020. For this option the deadline for the final project would be August 31, 2020. 
3. The mural can contain an interactive aspect where regional event attendees add their own touch to the mural. Engaging the local community in the creation of this mural highlights the Council’s history of working on behalf and with the people of N.C.
4. Or the interaction can include staff engagement, board engagement, or volunteer engagement. This approach highlights the lasting impact each of us who work for and with the Council have on N.C. history through our involvement with issues the Council embraces.

The way in which the mural is organized is at the discretion of the artist(s) but should take into consideration these key themes: the timeline of the Council, the specific influence the Council has in each region of N.C. where our monthly celebrations will be held (Wilmington, Greenville, Triad, Charlotte, Asheville, and the Triangle), and the social change the Council has helped shepherd over the past 85 years.

Council History Important for the Timeline

The North Carolina Council of Churches has a proven record of moving ahead of the curve on the social issues of its day even when our position was not popular among the churches or the culture. Shortly after we were founded in 1935, the Council was likely one of the first places in the south where black and white leaders sat together to discuss matters of mutual importance. Since those early days, we have been out in front on race relations (1930s), prison reform (1940s), farmworker rights (1940s), advocating for farmworker labor conditions (1950s), environment (1960s), the Equal Rights Amendment (1960s), prison conditions (1970s), tobacco cessation (1980s), LGBTQ+ concerns (1990s), health and wholeness (early 2000s). We continue to work on many of the issues listed above as well as gun violence prevention, environment, public education, raising wages campaign, immigration, opioid crisis awareness, and anti-torture. Specific details will be discussed when the bid has been awarded.

Selection process

Deadline for submission of digital materials is September 13, 2019. From this group, we will invite a short-list of artists (2-4) for an interview and portfolio presentation with our selection team. Final selection will be announced no later than September 30, 2019, so that work on the project can begin immediately. Monthly community events will be held in Wilmington, NC, Greenville, NC, Greensboro, NC, Charlotte, NC, and Asheville, NC, and Raleigh, NC.

A successful proposal will demonstrate the integration of the historical perspective of the Council’s influence across N.C. and across the decades, using original concepts that invite engagement with both the artwork and life of the Council.

If you have any questions, please contact us at michelle@ncchurches.org or call 919-828-6501.