City launches Gainesville Social Justice Mural Project 
What: The City of Gainesville 352walls Community Artist Program invites local artists to participate in its newly launched Gainesville Social Justice Mural Project.

Where: City parks and public spaces throughout the community

Details: The City of Gainesville 352walls Community Artist Program seeks 12 regional artists or artist crews to create a total of 12 temporary 8 feet x 8 feet murals with social justice as the theme. The murals will be located in City of Gainesville parks and public spaces. The murals will be painted on prepared plywood panels affixed to wooden posts, enabling them to be relocated during the two- to three-year lifespan of the project.
 
352walls mural by Gaia

This call for artists seeks creative voices to illustrate both the contemporary challenges and the possibilities of social justice in America. The murals should respond to change, hope, and the idea and ideals of social justice. The project is designed to attract fresh voices expressing diverse perspectives on human rights. It aims to reflect the energy of the social justice movement with a visible public declaration of the City’s commitment towards progress, enlightenment, and justice for all neighbors.
Black Lives Matter mural by Renda Writer
Examples of tributes to inclusion and social justice in the City’s wall collection include: murals by Baltimore artist Gaia and Gainesville artist Yvonne Ferguson celebrating the accomplishments of Gainesville African Americans; Black Lives Matter art by Renda Writer and Ashley Townsend on the 5th Avenue Walls @ Springhill; world-renowned artist JAZ’s allegorical mural of those who seek a better life; and three rainbow crosswalks expressing support for the LGBTQ community. Additional images can be found through this link.

To apply, artists or artist crews must submit an artist statement, a summary of previous mural experience, 3 images of previous work plus a concept sketch for an 8’ x 8’ mural based on the theme of social justice and/or the community they envision for the future. Submissions including nudity, profanity or offensive images will not be accepted. Local artists are encouraged to click here to register and submit material (or visit Zapplication.org and search the Event List for: Gainesville Social Justice Mural Project 2020).

Submissions for the 12 murals will be juried by a pro-bono panel of curators, jurors from Gainesville’s creative community, and representation from the community’s grassroots social justice movement.
 
Key selection criteria will include:
  1. Artistic ability, skills, experience, portfolio and submission of a design idea or sketch
  2. Suitability of the artist’s individual style to the designated location
  3. Consideration of gender, racial and ethnic identity in relation to the entirety of the project
  4. Availability
 
Artists/Artist Crews must reside within a 100-mile radius of the City of Gainesville (center point: Main Street and University Avenue).
 
Selected artists or artist crews will receive $450 per assigned mural. The fee covers artist materials and supplies. The City of Gainesville will provide the primed plywood panels installed on posts in parks or public areas. Artists will be assigned mural locations.
Project timeline:
Call to artists released: Aug. 21
Submissions due: Sept. 13
Announcement: Oct. 1
Painting Dates: Oct. 31 - Nov. 22

Media contact:
Russell Etling, Cultural Affairs Manager
Office: 352-393-8532
Cell: 352-316-4628

Celebrating #NationalComingOutDay

Information contact for artists: TCEvents@cityofgainesville.org
352walls mural by JAZ
About the City of Gainesville: Gainesville is defining a new kind of city - a new American city - that aspires to become a model for other communities by solving critical issues through collaboration and intentional design. The purpose of our city is the people of our city.