Little Art City Strikes Again: Annex seeks mural artists to mark west downtown entrance
Augustin Galindo, 32, and Jose Oropesa, 41, both of The Dalles reface a portion of the Annex at 200 W. Second Street this morning, July 30. The Transitional housing facility is looking to get creative in weeks to come as it is set have a mural painted on the west end of the building, marking the west entrance to downtown.
From Mid-Columbia Community Action Council:
By Sarah Kellems
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) seeks proposals from individual artists or artist collectives to develop and realize a community mural at The Annex transitional housing and shelter facility in The Dalles, Oregon. The mural will be located on the west end of the family side of The Annex, marking the entrance to the west end of downtown The Dalles.
This wall on the right is the site of a new mural currently in the planning for the Annex. This transitional housing facility served 92 community members from Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties during its first six months of operation.
One of MCCAC’s key projects is The Annex transitional housing and shelter facility in The Dalles. A former motel that MCCAC purchased and renovated last year through Oregon Community Foundation’s Project Turnkey program, The Annex now serves over 50 transitional housing and shelter clients with coordinated, supportive services integrated on-site in collaboration with community partners.
In the first 6 months of operations, The Annex served 92 community members from Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties, including 14 families with 31 children and youth. As of early July 2024, 25 clients have exited from The Annex into long-term housing placements.
Agency Background:
MCCAC is the Community Action Agency serving Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman County. MCCAC’s mission is “to build a better future for our community through partnership and equity-centered programs that prevent and eliminate poverty and houselessness.” Our vision is “a bright, equitable, and dignified future for our community and our organization where our community thrives, our partnerships expand and deepen our impact, and our staff are empowered and supported to do their best work.”
MCCAC accomplishes its mission through its core program areas which include Housing Stabilization, Shelter, Household Utilities Assistance, and Weatherization. In addition, MCCAC is the lead coordinator of houseless services on the Oregon side of the Mid-Columbia Region through its oversight of the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative.
Project Approach and Goals:
The Community Mural at The Annex will be realized on the west end of the family side of The Annex. The mural project will be developed and carried out through a placemaking approach which is designed to inspire people to collectively reimagine spaces that serve as the heart of their community while at the same time providing an opportunity for participants to deepen their connection with the space and with each other.
Our primary goal is that the Community Mural at The Annex will bring together community members from a variety of sectors, with priority groups being families living at The Annex and local young, emerging artists. Our secondary goal for the project is to create a more welcoming environment at The Annex, while also joining in the rich mural tradition that exists in downtown The Dalles. We are dedicated to centering our agency mission and vision and to listening to families living at The Annex and local young and emerging artists through this project.
Site Considerations:
• Location: 200 W. 2nd, The Dalles, Oregon
• Approximate Mural Dimensions: 9’ H x 30’ W = 270 SF
• Stucco Surface: Painted with standard outdoor paint
• Site Access: Solid sidewalk base, accessible by ladder, scaffolding, or lift
• Logos: None
Scope of Work:
The selected artist or artist collective will be responsible for:
1. Designing and realizing a high-quality, long-lasting mural
2. Collaborating with MCCAC staff to develop and implement an in-person community engagement process for mural design and realization that includes and centers listening to families living at The Annex and local young, emerging artists
3. Submitting mural design concept to MCCAC reflecting input from community design session
4. Working with MCCAC through up to 2 rounds of revision to refine and finalize mural design
5. Managing all painting supply acquisition, equipment rentals, and/or other project costs
6. Collaborating with MCCAC to realize the mural through a “Community Painting Day” using a paint by number or similar approach; no ladder work and artist(s) provides needed art supplies
7. Applying mural grade protective clear coating - 2-part system with non-sacrificial and sacrificial wax
8. Managing the project timeline and budget
9. Ensuring safety protocols are followed throughout the project, including liability coverage for artist(s)
10. Providing MCCAC with a “limited copyright license” to mural work MCCAC will be responsible for:
1. Review of submissions in response to RFP and artist selection process
2. Collaborating with artist(s) around in-person community engagement process for mural design and realization that includes families living at The Annex and local young, emerging artists
3. Facilitating site access for artist(s) including supply storage, water access, electricity, bathrooms
4. Collaborating with the artist(s) to realize the mural through a “Community Painting Day”
5. Ensuring liability coverage for Community Painting Day participants, or waiver of liability
6. Upkeep to mural; providing artist(s) with 1st refusal rights for restoration work
Submission Requirements:
We encourage submissions from artists of all backgrounds, particularly those from historically underrepresented communities and/or with lived experience of poverty or houselessness.
• Artist statement and CV/resume - Include how you will connect this project to MCCAC’s mission and vision, and center listening to families at The Annex and local young, emerging artists. It may be submitted by
1) written statement (max 2 pages in PDF) or 2) oral statement: (video/voice recording of up to 2 minutes) Submission Requirements (cont.):
• Portfolio of relevant work - Including examples of previous murals and community-engaged projects (max 10 images or a video file of up to 10 images)
• Outline of community engagement strategy – May be submitted by 1) written statement (max 2 pages in PDF format) or 2) oral statement (video/voice recording of up to 2 minutes)
• Proposed project budget and timeline - Include estimated costs for the full project scope; contract costs will be listed in a “not to exceed” format
• Two references
Evaluation Criteria:
• Proven ability to execute high-quality, long-lasting murals
• Project design focused on community engagement
• Commitment to connect the project to MCCAC's mission and vision and to centering listening to families living at The Annex and local young, emerging artists.
• Experience in collaborative art projects in rural communities
• Feasibility of proposed timeline and budget
Selection Process:
• Up to three submissions will be selected for interviews with MCCAC leadership
• Finalists will be invited to meet with MCCAC liaisons for a site tour
• Final selection will be based on the submission that best meets or exceeds the evaluation criteria
Timeline:
• RFP Release Date: Monday, July 29, 2024
• Review of Proposals Begins: Friday, August 9, 2024
• Artist Selection: Anticipated by September 16, 2024
• Project Completion: Ideally fall 2024, with flexibility for spring 2025 Submission Instructions:
• Please submit all required materials to skellems@mccac.com with the subject line "Community Mural RFP Submission - [Artist/Collective Name]".
• For questions or additional information, please contact Sarah Kellems, MCCAC Development and Partnerships Director, at skellems@mccac.com.
• MCCAC is committed to equity and inclusion. We encourage submissions from artists of all backgrounds, particularly those from historically underrepresented communities and/or with lived experience of poverty or houselessness.
