Pleasant Street_Mural Call for Artists.pdf

ARTIST OPPORTUNITY:

Malden Pleasant Street Mural Release Date: March 31, 2026 Due date for Responses: April 23, 2026 at 12:00pm

CONTACT

Email questions to Elena Eimert at eeimert@cityofmalden.org with the subject line: “Malden Pleasant Street Mural”

I. OVERVIEW

Purpose The City of Malden Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) is seeking an artist or team of artists to design and produce a mural. The public purpose of the mural is to celebrate Malden’s rich cultural diversity and stimulate community connection with Malden’s new public art strategy. The mural will be located on Pleasant Street, on the wall under the Orange Line overpass on the south side of Pleasant Street. The wall is about 68 feet wide by 9 feet high. Selected artist is responsible for priming the surface onto which the mural is to be mounted. The mural will be painted on panels provided by others, treated with an anti-graffiti coating by the artist, and secured to a frame using angle brackets and attached to the wall, installation completed by others. The mural will be officially revealed to the public during a launch event organized by the City in partnership with the Artist(s).

Award The Artist(s) will be awarded a total of $20,000 that will be provided by OSPCD as the project progresses on a pre-determined schedule. There will be a grant agreement between the City of Malden OSPCD and the Artist(s). The award will cover supplies, artist fees, liability insurance, and all project costs. OSPCD will provide coordination and project management support as needed.

The City in its sole discretion may choose not to make an award.

Funding for this project is made possible through a state earmark.

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.] https://www.cityofmalden.org/1225/Public-Art https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4272791,-71.0741956,3a,89y,132.28h,61.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sNcmrBLxeAxtEoyvpn5NQXg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D28.042183229385486%26panoid%3DNcmrBLxeAxtEoyvpn5NQXg%26yaw%3D132.28053259884666!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMxOC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

II. CONTEXT/BACKGROUND

Source: Google Maps

Malden is looking to implement its new public art strategy focused on Malden’s downtown, following the completion of an arts planning process in spring 2025. More information about Malden’s Public Art Strategy can be found at this link: https://www.cityofmalden.org/1225/Public-Art

The City has identified an unimproved underpass of Pleasant Street as a good place to create a new mural The dimensions of the wall are approximately 68 feet wide by 9 feet high. OSPCD is securing the appropriate permissions from the MBTA for this project.

III. WHO CAN APPLY

Lead applicants must be an artist(s) aged 18 years or older. Preference will be given to applicants with a connection to Malden.

IV. SELECTION PROCESS & CRITERIA

A review committee consisting of up to five individuals will evaluate the proposals received. The committee will be comprised of at least one OSPCD staff member, one staff member from the Mayor’s office, and a representative each from Creative Malden, Malden Creates, and Malden Arts.

OSPCD staff will review applications for eligibility. Committee members will review eligible submissions in accordance with the criteria listed below. The review committee may seek outside expertise, including, but not limited to, input from technical and subject matter advisors to assist in evaluating proposals.

Selection Criteria

• Artist(s) demonstrates:

o Experience painting large-scale outdoor murals of similar dimensions o Experience working with community input to create visually impactful murals that reflect the characteristics of a place and its community o Project management skills, including keeping to a set project budget and schedule o Capacity to complete the mural by June 19, 2026, within the budget of $20,000 o The ability to create a mural that stimulates community connection with Malden’s new public art strategy o Note: Mural concepts should not include copyright material, brand/business names or promotional material for particular brands/businesses. The piece should be an original, previously unpublished, work of art that is inclusive, welcoming, appropriate, and suitable for diverse audiences of all ages.

Priority Selection will be considered for applicants who meet the following criteria:

• Artists with a connection to Malden

V. HOW TO APPLY

Submit a complete application package with all of the application elements below.

Submission Instructions Applicants must submit a digital copy of their proposal and corresponding materials via email to the City of Malden OSPCD at OSPCDInfo@cityofmalden.org. All submittals must include “Malden Pleasant Street Mural” in the subject line.

Artist information

1) Contact information: Artist name and contact information, including phone number, email address and mailing address. Team applications should identify a primary contact for the team.

2) Artist/Artist Team Experience: The following materials should speak to the artist/artist team’s experience and/or readiness to paint a large-scale outdoor mural of similar dimensions, work with community input to create visually impactful murals that reflect the characteristics of a place and its community, and project manage - keeping to a set project budget and schedule to complete the mural within budget by June 19, 2026.

3) Required Documentation:

a) Resume/CV (2-page max) and/or short bio (2 paragraphs). Team applications should provide brief bios of team members.

b) Work samples. 3-5 digital images of applicant’s related work with descriptions that include: title, year, medium and size.

Other Optional Documentation:

c) Letter of Support from a person or organization that can speak to the artist/artist team’s experience with murals and project management skills.

d) Links to artist(s)’s website, digital portfolio, Instagram, or social media platform.

Project Concept

1) Project Description (1-page max).

o Be sure to include information regarding medium and dimensions, and describe how your design concept will meet the following selection criteria:

Celebrate Malden’s diversity

2) Conceptual proposal: Sketch or conceptual drawing of your project concept (1-page max, submitted in a PDF, jpeg, or png file). Please note this is meant to demonstrate the artist’s vision for the piece. The City is not expecting a true conceptual design.

3) Draft Project Budget. Please provide a preliminary project budget including supplies, artist fees, insurance, and all project costs for the proposed concept. Note: Total budget available is $20,000. All projects must include anti-graffiti coating for the entirety of the mural.

4) Confirmation that the lead artist(s) have the capacity to complete the mural between May 1, 2026, and June 19, 2026.

mailto:OSPCDInfo@cityofmalden.org

Time

VI. PROPOSED TIMELINE

For Applicants:

1. Call for Artists Application Release Date: March 31, 2026

2. Call for Artists Virtual Information Session: April 9, 2026, at 10am

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22740130717562?p=2Ok5en6uzpuUIAoJ3a Meeting ID: 227 401 307 175 62 Passcode: wi2Lq29g

3. Question Submission Deadline: April 13, 2026

• Send questions to OSPCDInfo@cityofmalden.org

4. Responses to all questions received via email and during info sessions will be posted online by April 16, 2026

5. Application Due Date: April 23, 2026

• All materials can be submitted via email to: OSPCDInfo@cityofmalden.org

6. Review Committee reviews all eligible submissions: TBD

7. Applicants receive initial response on or before May 7, 2026

8. Award announced on or before May 7, 2026

For selected artist(s):

1. Grant agreement signed on or before Early May

2. Initial kick off meeting where artist receives feedback on initial design concept from review committee: By Early- to Mid-May (Payment #1)

3. Design phase: Artist to work on final design from Mid-May to Early June

4. Final design approved by Early June (Payment #2)

5. Installation phase: Final artwork to be completed (and installed) on or before Mural to be painted between Mid- to Late-June

6. All final deliverables, including launch event complete Late June (Payment #3)

Note that the grant agreement, final artwork completion, and final deliverables dates are subject to negotiation and change.

VII. PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The proposed payment schedule is as follows:

Deliverable 1: Signed Public Art Grant Agreement & Initial Design Submitted

$3,000

Deliverable 2: Approved Final Design $5,000

Deliverable 3: Painting and Inspection

$5,000

Deliverable 4: Unveiling Event $7,000 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22740130717562?p=2Ok5en6uzpuUIAoJ3a

VIII. COPYRIGHT

Municipality and grantee each reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, and otherwise use, and authorize others to use any artworks/deliverables developed under this agreement with attribution. Grantee retains all ownership and copyright of any ancillary materials developed under the Grant Agreement.

IX. REVIEWER RUBRIC

1 – Does Not Meet Criteria

2 – Partially Meets Criteria

3 – Meets Criteria But Lacks Detail

4 – Application Addresses Criteria Thoroughly / In Great Detail

5 – Application Exceeds Expectations With Regard to Criteria

Preliminary concept aligns with project goals and values

Artist demonstrates experience in external/outsid e mural creation ability to create artwork that is sensitive to social, cultural, environmental and/or historical contexts experience reflecting community input in a project experience working with a client to create a final deliverable of artwork Artist demonstrates experience in meeting project deadlines and managing grant funding availability to commence work during May 2026

Artist submits a proposal containing all required elements

X. SAMPLE GRANT AGREEMENT

This Grant Agreement is made effective (Date TBD), between:

Artist(s): TBD Project Funder: City of Malden 215 Pleasant Street Malden MA 02148 Facility Owner: MBTA

1. Description of Work:

The Artist(s) will paint a mural directly onto the external wall of the MBTA underpass along Pleasant Street. The mural that will reflect Malden’s rich cultural diversity and be in alignment with Malden’s new public art strategy. The Artist(s) should have some prior experience with mural painting. As a final deliverable, the Artist(s) will have to work with OSPCD to organize a mural unveiling.

2. Obligation of Artist(s) and City of Malden:

a) Artist(s) shall purchase materials necessary for the creation of the mural.

b) Artist(s) shall create the mural and oversee the work of any hired subcontractors and volunteer groups. Artist(s) will provide the City of Malden a Certificate of Insurance in the amount of

$1,000,000 (One Million dollars and no cents), naming the City of Malden as an additional insured. Artist(s) will provide a release of liability form acceptable to the City of Malden and will require any and all volunteers on site to sign release.

c) Artist(s) shall secure any building permits necessary for the lawful creation and execution of the mural.

d) Artist(s) shall provide the necessary equipment for the project, including but not limited to, ladders, scaffolds, and/or work lifts.

e) Artist(s) shall submit the design of the mural to the City of Malden, which shall have final approval of the design of the mural. Any alteration to the design or location must be mutually approved by the City of Malden and Artist(s).

f) Artist(s) represents and warrants to the City of Malden that (i) it has the full right, power, and authority to enter into this agreement, and to grant the City of Malden all of the rights granted herein: (ii) that the mural will not and shall not infringe any copyright, trademark or other intellectual property or proprietary right, or violate any right of privacy, publicity or other right of any person or entity.

g) Artist(s) will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the City of Malden from and against any losses, claims, demands, and causes of action, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, and dispute resolution costs, arising from or relating to any actual or claimed infringement of any trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property or property rights by reason of the mural or any advertising or promotional materials created or supplied by

Artist(s) concerning the mural.

h) Artist(s) agrees that it will not sell, assign or transfer this Contract or any part thereof, or interest therein to any person or entity without the prior written consent of the City of Malden.

3. Start and Completion dates:

Artist(s) shall undertake the creation of the mural starting in TBD. Artist(s) shall complete the mural no later than June 19, 2026. Artist(s) shall give the City of Malden a week’s notice before commencing the painting.

4. Use of Premises:

Artist(s) may have the non-exclusive use of the storage space at the Central Business District Garage located at 170 Centre Street, (“Premises”) solely for the purpose of creating the mural. Artist(s) acknowledges that this is unheated space, and space heaters are prohibited. Artists shall be responsible for maintaining the Premises in a clean and orderly condition during the use. Artists shall not make any alterations to the Premises without the prior written agreement of the City of Malden. Artist to return the

Premises in the same condition as it was prior to their use, reasonable wear and tear excepted. Artists shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations while using the Premises.

5. Indemnification of Use of Premises:

Artist(s) shall indemnify, defend (with counsel acceptable to the City of Malden, which acceptance shall not unreasonably be withheld), and hold harmless the City of Malden, its officers, employees, agents and representatives from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, judgments, liabilities and causes of action, for bodily injury, property damage, third-party claims, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, and dispute resolution costs, arising out of or relating to the acts or omissions of the Artist, as well as relating to the Artists’ use of the Premises. The obligations set forth in this paragraph shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

6. Exploitation of the work:

Artist(s) shall be entitled to reasonable advance notice of any publicity or photographic reproduction of the mural by the City of Malden. Artist(s) shall also receive authorship credit in connection with the mural or any reproductions of the mural.

7. Privacy:

The City of Malden gives Artist(s) permission to use the City of Malden’s name and picture, in all forms of media and in all manners, including but not limited to exhibition, display, advertising, trade, and editorial uses as it relates to the mural, without violation of the City of Malden’s right to privacy.

8. Maintenance/Alteration of the work:

The City of Malden shall notify Artist(s) promptly in the event of the need for any maintenance or restoration services of the artwork, or removal of the mural. Artist(s) shall be responsible for any reasonable maintenance or restoration services, and/or removal of the artwork for a four-month period from the date of installation of the mural, or up to $1,000, whichever occurs first without cost to the City of Malden. These costs shall be for the cost of payment to artists, project management, paint and other supplies and labor needed for restoration of the art or removal of the mural. The City of Malden retains all control over the site on which the mural is to be installed and may, at its own discretion, alter or remove the mural.

MISCELLANEOUS: This agreement establishes an independent contractor relationship and contains the entire recitation of legal terms governing the relationship. Operational directions and requests shall not amend such terms, which may only be amended in writing, by both parties. This agreement is binding on all successors of the parties. All provisions hereof are severable. This agreement is governed by

Massachusetts law.

9. Delay:

If the creation of the mural is delayed by an act or neglect of the City of Malden, by labor disputes, fire, or by other external forces, act of God or natural calamities outside Artist(s)’s control, Artist(s) shall be entitled to extend the completion date via written notification to the City of Malden, by the time equivalent of such delay as herein stated.

10. Notices:

All notices shall be sent to Artist(s):

Contact Information TBD and to the City of Malden:

TBD

City of Malden

215 Pleasant Street

Malden MA 02148

Email: TBD

11. Integration:

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties. Its terms can be modified only by an instrument in writing signed by both parties.

12. Arbitration:

Any dispute hereunder between the parties, not involving money claims by either party in excess of

$1,000,000 (One Million dollars and no cents) shall be resolved by resort to arbitration in accordance with the standards and procedures of the American Arbitration Association.

13. Severability

The provisions of this Contract are severable. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this contract shall be found to be invalid, the remainder of this Contract shall be unaffected and shall be in full force and effect.

14. Governing Law

The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall govern the construction of this Agreement.

______________________ Date: ___________ Artist(s) TBD

______________________ Date: ___________ Gary Christenson, Mayor City of Malden