BIG Vestibule Vinyl Mural RFQ

The City of Bloomington invites experienced public artists and teams to submit qualifications for the design of a vinyl mural for the Bloomington Ice Garden (BIG) vestibule. The mural will be printed on vinyl and installed on the west-facing wall of the vestibule, approximately 70 feet long by 10 feet tall. The design will celebrate the rich history and strong sense of community associated with BIG and its users. The total project budget is $8,000, which must cover all design modifications, site visits, community engagement efforts, submission of high-resolution images to the installer, insurance, and other related expenses.

Eligibility is limited to experienced Minnesota-based public artists and teams that have completed at least one commissioned art design or public art piece in the past ten years. Priority will be given to applicants with mural design and community engagement experience. Finalists must be able to attend an in-person interview and presentation.

Applications must be submitted by March 14, 2025 at 11:00 PM CST via CaFE and should include: a one-page letter describing interest in the project, approach to design and engagement, and eligibility statement; a one-page listing of 1-3 project references including at least one commissioned piece completed in the past ten years; one-page biographical information or resume; and up to 5 images of recent projects (at least one commissioned piece completed in the past ten years) in JPEG format, 1200 pixels on the longest side, less than 5 MB. Three finalists will be selected by April 11, 2025 and will each receive a $750 design fee. Finalists will present design concept proposals in April-May 2025. One artist or team will be selected by May 30, 2025 to complete the mural with a budget of $7,500. Installation is anticipated for September 2025.