New Mexico Themed Coloring Book - Request for Qualifications

The Art in Public Places (AIPP) Program of New Mexico Arts and the NM Department of Cultural Affairs seeks 5-26 artists to create coloring page illustrations for a multi-cultural, multi-lingual New Mexico themed alphabet book. The goal is to encourage early childhood literacy through art creation and reading comprehension. The coloring book will be based on the English alphabet and target children in the 2-5 age range. Each illustration will represent a letter of the alphabet with an accompanying short sentence. Artists are encouraged to embrace their own native languages and culture in determining which letters and words they would like to illustrate.

Coloring book illustrations must be black and white and 8.5" x 11" in size, preferably in portrait orientation. The corresponding letter must be incorporated into each illustration. Book text and sentences will be added during the final book assembly and design phase. Artists will work with the project committee to select and finalize letters, words, and sentences. All 26 letters of the English alphabet will be represented in order. Once finalized and assembled, books will be printed and distributed across New Mexico through local libraries and partners, with rural communities as a priority for distribution.

This request for qualifications is open to all artists working in New Mexico. Artists will be paid $1,000 per completed illustration, which includes all fees and expenses associated with the project. Current employees or family members of current employees of NM Department of Cultural Affairs are not eligible. Past employees are eligible to submit but may not become employed by NMDCA for the duration of the project. Submissions must include an artist statement/letter of interest (no longer than 5,000 characters), helpful links to websites or social media, and up to ten images of previously completed artwork with complete citations. The submission deadline is March 18, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Selected artists will be notified in April 2022 and will be required to enter into an artist agreement with the State of New Mexico.