Little Village Branch Library Mural Percent For Art Commission

Chicago Public Art Group (CPAG) in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) invites professional artists and artist teams to submit qualifications to design a community-engaged outdoor mural for the Little Village Branch Library. The mural will be installed on the exterior wall (approximately 20 feet high and 38 feet wide) near the library entrance at 2311 S. Kedzie Avenue at 23rd Street.

Artists and artist teams must have a connection to the Little Village community, understand the neighborhoods the library serves, and research the library's history. There is no residency requirement. The Little Village Branch Library opened October 3, 2011, and serves a predominantly Latino community with a median household income of $33,593. The building holds LEED Gold certification. Successful proposals must provide details on how the artist or team connects with the community, their approach to community engagement, how they will research the library and neighborhood's history, and describe past experiences working with this community.

Following the RFQ deadline, an advisory panel of library staff, DCASE staff, and two community members will review applications and select 3 finalists. Finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium to develop mural designs and will participate in community design workshops in early March. The three finalists will present designs to the advisory panel, which will select the final artist or artist team. The total project budget is $49,626, inclusive of all costs for design, community engagement, fabrication, site preparation, and installation. Work sample requirements: 6-8 images and up to 1 video (6-9 total samples).