Rock Island Downtown Alliance and Quad City Arts are seeking two artists (or artist teams) for the design and installation of two public murals on exterior walls in downtown Rock Island.
The murals will be created on separate concrete walls (one east-facing and one west-facing) in Arts Alley, a pedestrian area at 1719 2nd Ave., next to Quad City Arts. Together, the walls encompass more than 4,000 square feet, according to a Wednesday release.
Payments for the artists will be:
- Mural 1: $33,600 (80 feet x 28 feet)
- Mural 2: $27,000 (60’ x 30’)
For both murals: 50% of the compensation is to be paid upon contract execution and 50% within two weeks of completion of the mural. This fee includes all associated costs of creation (i.e., materials, paint, transportation, etc.).
Among criteria in the request for qualifications are:
- This mural should not include any ‘welcome’ verbiage or explicit reference to the city of Rock Island.
- This mural should not include the river and/or river elements.
- The murals do not need to cover the entirety of the designated space.
- The artist must have large-scale mural experience, with sufficient knowledge of both medium and materials to ensure the durability of the mural.
“It’s hard to convey in digital renderings the impact these large-scale murals will have on both the downtown streetscape and the downtown economy as well,” said Jack Cullen, executive director of the Rock Island Downtown Alliance. “We believe these improvements, paired with plans to program Arts Alley, will bring more foot traffic downtown, and we are thrilled to take this next step with Quad City Arts and the city of Rock Island.”
Interested and qualified artists are encouraged to complete the Request for Qualifications by Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at 5 p.m. Finalists will be selected based on qualifications and invited to submit designs.
The chosen artists will be notified April 19 and the new murals are to be completed May 31.
The Downtown Alliance and Quad City Arts will work with the building owners in Arts Alley and the city of Rock Island’s Arts & Beautification Commission to review proposals and seek public input during the selection process.
“Nationally, cultural tourism is on the rise,” said Kevin Maynard, executive director of Quad City Arts. “We are happy to help organizations in the Quad Cities bring more art to our community. This project is extra special because it is literally right outside our door. We are excited to focus on creative placemaking with the Rock Island Downtown Alliance and the city of Rock Island.”
The renovation of Arts Alley is one major component of the larger Rebuild Downtown Rock Island Project with work slated to begin this spring. Other planned improvements to Arts Alley include a decorative walkway, lighting and signage; space for social gatherings and performances; weatherproof vendor stalls for seasonal pop-up shop programs; and additional art installations.
The total budget for the improvements to Arts Alley is just over $534,000, with half of the project’s costs being funded by a $267,000 State of Illinois Tourism Attractions grant. The city of Rock Island is primarily funding the remaining costs with a combination of Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District funds and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
In addition to new murals, past proposed additions to Arts Alley include ornate signage, lighting, interactive art installations, spaces for live performances and film screenings, new pavement, landscaping and a heating component to make it accessible throughout the year.
Rentable vendor stalls will also provide a platform for entrepreneurs and small business owners to sell their products during seasonal pop-up shop programs. Additionally, Modern Woodmen of America offered to dedicate space in its adjacent parking lot for a new enclosure that will host the existing dumpsters in Arts Alley and improve the overall visitor experience.
For more information, see the RFQ HERE.