CALL TO CREATIVES: Request for Proposals for Midtown Sign Design to Honor Juneteenth National Independence Day 

Deadline to apply: Friday, May 10, 2024 by 5:00 PM CST.

Applicant Notification: Friday, May 17, 2024 via email

Questions: opportunity@fresharts.org

PROJECT SUMMARY: 

Midtown Houston Cultural Arts and Entertainment District is seeking artists and or graphic designers to create a unique design or artwork for the iconic Midtown sign honoring Juneteenth National Independence Day. Through the Request for Proposals process, ONE proposed design will be selected and the finalist will receive $1,200 for their design, and their presence for installation and artist talk. The artwork should capture the theme "Road to Juneteenth'' and consist of a vibrant and compelling visual narrative.
 

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PROJECT BACKGROUND: 

Since 2022 the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District has been invited by the 3rd Ward Cultural Arts District and the Emancipation Park Conservancy to participate in the citywide Juneteenth festivities. Midtown was once a part of the historical 4th and 3rd Ward communities. As the Cultural Arts Districts gather to create the programs and events for Juneteenth, we establish an overall arching theme to help define the exceptional uniqueness of each year’s events. 

This artistic design project is intended to honor the cultural heritage that relates to the established federal Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery by marking the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. The Midtown Houston Cultural Arts and Entertainment District will be participating with other established Cultural Arts Districts and arts organizations in Houston to host Juneteenth festivities.

 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Midtown Houston Cultural Arts and Entertainment District is seeking artists and or graphic designers to create a unique design or artwork for the iconic Midtown sign honoring Juneteenth National Independence Day. Through the Request for Proposals process, ONE proposed design will be selected and the finalist will receive $1,200 for their design and participation. The artwork should capture the theme "Road to Juneteenth" and consist of a vibrant and compelling visual narrative. 

The selected design will be turned into a large-scale temporary public art display and digitally printed on 3M Vinyl Wrap and professionally wrapped on the 3D letters of the Midtown Sign located on the stage at 415 Gray Street in Bagby Park. The design will be on view from June 3 - July 4, 2024.

The selected artist will be asked to be on-site at Bagby Park during the June 3rd installation (time TBD). Additionally, the artist will be asked to participate in a professionally recorded Artist Talk (tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 6) to explain their process and highlight the importance of the project in the history of our cultural landscape. This interview will be made available on Midtown Houston's social media and shared with partner organizations.

Midtown Houston Cultural Arts and Entertainment District will cover all installation expenses and marketing costs.

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS: 

The artwork/design must be original and of the artist/designer’s hand. NO appropriated artwork or designs will knowingly be selected. Artist/designer will be asked to sign a document acknowledging the authenticity of the work.

The artwork should capture the theme "Road to Juneteenth" and consist of a vibrant and compelling visual narrative. It should represent key moments leading up to the creation of the Juneteenth holiday, such as the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the announcement of the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas.
 

The submission should symbolize the ongoing journey of education and enlightenment for all people. African-American culture and symbols of freedom should be represented, and the artwork should depict not only historical events but also the impact of the knowledge of Juneteenth's history on the community, celebrating both liberation and the continued pursuit of equality (Read more about the history of Juneteenth).

Additional design considerations: 

• Please note the Midtown logo located in the dot above the letter “i’” will not be covered with any artwork and it should not be included as part of the artwork or wrap process.
• On the letter “n” at the bottom right leg of the letter the #midtownhouston must appear.
• The artist should include their signature as part of the artwork.
• Midtown will pay the artist fee, the cost of the sign wrap production, installation, and removal.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Acceptable design files for the application process include PDF and JPEG; however, the final design must be provided in high-resolution format (PDF, AI, PSD, EPS, TIFF). The selected artist will be given approximately three (3) days from the date of notification to provide the final print-ready design.
 

Sign Dimensions: The linked template is for artists to use to create designs on the midtown sign. Do not change the size of the template, it is already to scale. The sign consists of the word “midtown” in metal/ steel lowercase letters that are approximately 8 feet tall and span approximately 81 ft across a raised concrete stage. There are multi-color LED lights below each letter that are turned on nightly. We encourage you to do a site visit and view past installations for an understanding of the size and scale of the project.
 

Design Tip: The best design fits on the letters. Keep that in mind when designing the artwork.
 

Sign Specs:

• Link to SIGN TEMPLATE (PDF); Do not change the size of the template, it is already to scale
• 1:10 scale
• 720 dpi (effects/gradients)
• Please leave 0.5 in. bleed all around
• CMYK and Pantone values are recommended.

The Midtown letters face wrap is 3M Vinyl Wrap. It is a full color digital print produced with OEM Mimaki Inks with True Solvent UV non fading inks 3M IJ180-V3 with 3M Matching Lamination ControlTac Technology. The sign wrap will be printed by Got Signs by Xtickers Designs, Inc. and professionally installed by certified technicians.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Contact Information*: Required information includes name, email address, and cell phone. 
2. Relevant Work Samples: Up to four (4) images of prior works that demonstrate your artistic style and the caliber of your work (work samples may be commissioned design projects, studio work, sketches, past work, etc. as it relates to this project). 
3. Image List: include image description which may include title, date completed, material/medium, or additional context. Due to the blind voting process, please avoid including any identifying information such as name or handle. 
4. Letter of Interest: Describe your interest in this project and describe how, if selected, your design would honor Juneteenth National Independence Day.
5. Artwork/Design Proposal: Applicants may submit up to four (4) images of their proposed design using the provided sign template. This can include sketches, painted renderings, or digital images. Additionally, applicants should be prepared to describe how their design honors Juneteenth National Independence Day.
    

*Identifiable information withheld from the review panel.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Interested applicants are highly encouraged to do a site visit at Bagby Park for an understanding of the size and scale of the project.
• Submissions will be accepted from April 17 through May 10, 2024. All artists will be notified of their application status by email through the Submittable portal on Friday, May 17th, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted. 
• Applicants may submit up to four (4) images of their proposed design using the provided sign template. This can include sketches, painted renderings, or digital images. Additionally, applicants should be prepared to describe how their design honors Juneteenth National Independence Day. 
• The selected artist will be asked to provide a final print-ready design no later than Monday, May 20, 2024.
• Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel which will include Midtown Houston representatives and selected through a blind voting process.
• Questions regarding this application should be directed to Fresh Arts, opportunity@fresharts.org with the subject: Midtown Juneteenth 2024 Call

SELECTION CRITERIA: 

Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel which will include Midtown Houston representatives, and selected through a blind voting process. Selections will be based on the following criteria:

• Artistic Excellence: Proposed artwork/design should demonstrate the caliber of the artist's previous work and artistic style.
• Project Alignment:  The application clearly communicates the artist’s interest in the project and aligns with the overall goals of the project to honor Juneteenth National Independence Day. The artwork/design clearly captures the theme "Road to Juneteenth" and consists of a vibrant and compelling visual narrative.
• Concept Originality: The artwork/design must be original and of the artist/designer’s hand. NO appropriated artwork or designs will knowingly be selected. Artist/designer will be asked to sign a document acknowledging the authenticity of the work.
   

WHAT MAY NOT BE FUNDED

The funding for this project is made possible by the Midtown Management District. This project is to take place in the Midtown Houston community at Bagby Park. It may not be virtual in nature. This project may not include obscene or profane material as defined in Section 43.21, Penal Code of Texas. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.43.htm

ELIGIBILITY:

• Age 18 or older
• Eligible to work in the United States
• Local Houston artists and or graphic designers are eligible to apply
• Candidates are eligible regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender identification, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability.
• Neither Board Members or family members of the Midtown Management District, the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District, the Midtown Redevelopment Authority, TIRZ #2 or the Midtown Parks Conservancy are eligible to apply. Additionally, employees or family members related to Arts District Houston (Fresh Arts) or their Board of Directors; Got Signs -by Xtickers Designs Inc.– employees or family members are also NOT eligible to apply.

APPLICATION + PROJECT TIMELINE:

• Friday, May 10, 5:00 PM: RFP due via Submittable
• Friday, May 17: RFP Finalist Notification via email
• Monday, May 20, 12:00 PM: Finalist provides print-ready file via email
• Monday, June 3 (time TBD): Sign Wrap Installation* Day at Bagby Park. Artist presence requested for filming and photography
• Thursday, June 6 (time TBD): Artist Talk. The selected artist will participate in a professionally recorded interview about their work and the inspiration that fueled their design. 
• Friday, July 5: Sign Wrap removal*
   

*Sign Wrap installation and removal by a third party.

ABOUT MIDTOWN HOUSTON:

Midtown Houston is a bustling inner-city community with prominent cultural landmarks, with vibrant walkable neighborhoods.  Midtown received a Cultural Arts and Entertainment District designation from State of Texas Commission on the Arts in 2012. Since that time, we have experienced exponential growth in our business, residential and cultural arts community with more than 90 arts organizations and four parks, we truly are the center of it all. Annually we host two flagship events Midtown Mistletoe Market and Midtown Art in the Park. We have also distributed $91,000 as part of our midtownHOU Arts Micro Grants Program to local artists and arts organizations.

Additional information about Midtown Houston:

• Inaugural Juneteenth Sign Wrap – by Melissa Aytenfisu
• Artist Talk and Installation Documentary – by Neiman Catley of Blah Blah Co.
• Our Cultural Arts Entertainment Guide and Map
• Our 10-Year Cultural Arts Master Plan
• Virtual Midtown Art in the Park 2021

CONTACT

Questions regarding this application should be directed to Fresh Arts, opportunity@fresharts.org with the subject: Midtown Juneteenth 2024 Call. Applicants will be notified of a decision by email through the Submittable portal on Friday, May 17, 2024.

Before you apply, please read the Fiscal Sponsorship FAQs and schedule a meeting with the Fiscal Sponsorship Coordinator before the 15th of the month by emailing fiscalsponsorship@fresharts.org. Applications have a quarterly deadline on the 1st of February, May, August, and November. Also, note that in order for your application to be reviewed by our committee, you must pay the $25.00 non-refundable application fee. To pay your fee, please visit our payment page.
 

Fiscal sponsorship applications are reviewed quarterly by a committee whose recommendations are subject to approval by the Fresh Arts board of directors. Please allow adequate time for the approval process before beginning to raise funds for your project.

(If you already have a budget, mission statement, and project description prepared, the application should take roughly 30-45 minutes.) Click here to download a budget template for your application