2161_Jun_22_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) solicitation document issued by the Town of Vernon, Connecticut, for the design and installation of a large-scale narrative mural at 1 Prospect Street in the Rockville Cultural District. The Town seeks qualifications from professional artists or artist teams to create artwork on a concrete wall surface of approximately 460 square feet (33 feet by 12-18 feet) that conveys the dynamic energy of the Rockville area, celebrates the community's mill-town heritage, and incorporates the theme "Threads of Community." Eligible applicants must be professional or semi-professional artists, designers, or fabricators age 18 or older and legally eligible to work in the United States, with preference given to Connecticut-based artists, Rockville residents, and Vernon Public Schools alumni. The solicitation opened June 18, 2026, at 9:00 AM EDT with a submission deadline of July 15, 2026, at 1:00 PM EDT. Finalists will be selected by July 31, 2026, with finalist interviews scheduled for August 7 and artist notification on August 17. Design finalization is due August 31, 2026, and installation must be completed by December 2026. All application materials must be submitted as a single merged PDF file to Annie Geitner, Accelerator Mural Project Leader, at ageitner@vernon-ct.gov.

The total project budget is $17,000, which must cover the artist stipend, materials, equipment (scaffolding and lifts), surface treatment, UV sealant, anti-graffiti coating, and personal liability insurance. Finalists receive a $200 stipend upon written agreement and W-9 submission. Upon final selection, the Town of Vernon obtains 100% ownership of the artwork as a work made for hire, with copyright transferring to Cornerstone Foundation LLC. The Town actively encourages applications from Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, and Small Business Enterprises. Community engagement findings indicate strong preference for imagery depicting rivers or threads flowing through town, threads forming hearts or infinity symbols, and diverse faces connected by flowing lines, alongside mill heritage, local landmarks, and cultural elements. The solicitation is open to all U.S.-based artists, though Connecticut-based artists and local residents are particularly encouraged to apply.