Never Again is Now! SJSU Mural Project

San Jose State University is requesting proposals from an experienced artist or artist team to design and create a permanent outdoor mural on the north side of Yoshihiro Uchida Hall, with proposals due January 12, 2027 at 3:00 p.m. PST via the CSUBUY platform. SJSU alumni and Bay Area residents receive a 50-point preference within the 650-point evaluation rubric; artists must be at least 18 years old and reside on the West Coast, preferably California.

The mural will occupy approximately 74 feet in width on the north facade of Yoshihiro Uchida Hall on SJSU's main campus in downtown San Jose, commemorating Japanese American history and SJSU's institutional role during the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans under Executive Order 9066. The scope includes design development, creation of the permanent installation, a comprehensive maintenance plan, and provision of original concept sketches to SJSU's archives. Upon completion, all artwork and reproduction rights transfer to SJSU for educational and interpretive purposes. Artists with Japanese community involvement are encouraged but not required.

The evaluation criteria total 650 points: Proposal Responsiveness to RFP Requirements (50 points), Approach and Methodology (200 points), Responsiveness to Scope of Services (150 points), Cost Proposal (100 points), SJSU Alumni and Bay Area Resident status (50 points), and Resume, Portfolio, and References (100 points). The total budget encompasses all artist compensation for labor, design, assistants, insurance, travel, equipment, materials, and installation. Payment will be made in progress payments split evenly throughout the project duration.

The selection process is four-stage: Round 1 (Application Review by January 29, 2027), Round 2 (In-Person Interviews by February 9, 2027), Round 3 (Finalist Stipend and Proposal Development with eight semi-finalists selected; four finalists receive stipends of $2,000 for the lead and $1,000 each for three additional finalists), and Round 4 (Final Proposal Submission). The final artist or team will be selected by June 11, 2027, with contract execution targeted June 15–25, 2027. Installation is scheduled for summer 2027 with unveiling in fall 2027. Optional bid walks are scheduled for October 20 and November 12, 2026. Questions are due November 19, 2026.