CALL FOR ARTISTS

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum

Classroom Mural Project
Submission Deadline: June 5, 2023

Overview:
The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum is a hands-on educational facility whose mission is to: Spark Curiosity and Inspire Learning Through Exploration and Creative Play. As a tourist destination in the heart of Old Town Winchester we welcome over 55,000 visitors per year and embrace families and children of all backgrounds and abilities. We specialize in serving children ages birth through 8 years old and their families. The museum is looking to enliven our classroom space with a colorful art mural. This space is used throughout the year for a variety of functions; birthday parties, field trip programs, meetings, professional development and summer camp programming. We are hoping to leverage local art talent to make the space engaging and beautiful.

Deadline:
The deadline for all submissions in response to this call is 4pm Tuesday June 5, 2023.

Eligibility:
This call is open to all mural artists, preference is given to those living in the Shenandoah Valley.

Juried Selection Process:
This will be done in 2 sections. A jury/selection panel will review all initial proposals including resume, art samples and personal statement showing why you would be a good candidate and what makes you uniquely able to complete this extensive project. Panelists will be representatives from the following: Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum staff, Local artists, and ShenArts staff. At the end of the initial review a select group of artists will be asked to submit a design proposal specific to 2 our classroom space. The final review and selection will be based upon each step in this process.

Selection Criteria:
The panel will use the following criteria:
• Resume
• Samples of art (each art sample must be completely created and solely produced by the individual artist.)
• Personal statement and background in large scale mural production.
• Proof that person is able to install art piece within 7-10 days.
• Relevance to the mission and scope of the Discovery Museum’s work and audience
• Artistic merit and graphic strength of the proposed design.
• Celebrates diversity and childhood.
• Embraces family, exploration and play.
• Contributes to aesthetic and cultural atmosphere of the museum.
• Appropriateness of subject and concept for a children’s museum.
• Completeness of submission as outlined in this announcement.

Artwork will be deemed inappropriate which portrays; content which violates copyright or other known legal ownership interest, profanity, obscenity, indecency, violence, pornography; discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities or nationality; defamation or personal attacks.

Artwork Location and Duration:
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum’s third floor classroom. Mural will stay on display for a minimum of 3 years.

Payment:
The selected artist/artist team will be awarded $1,500 for their design/concept/paint and brushes. The Discovery Museum will supply: drop cloths, ladders, and preprepped walls.

Submission Requirements:
Please e-mail all application materials to Dawn Devine,  director@discoverymuseum.net. All artwork must be in .jpg form and can be opened without specialized software. Respondents should submit the following by 4 pm Tuesday May 30, 2023.