Seeking Bozeman-area artist or team of artists
to work with educators, community members, and students to design and construct a mural in downtown Bozeman.
Bozeman School District teacher Emma Laatsch, a 2016–17—Montana Teacher Leader in the Arts (MTLA), in conjunction with the Montana Arts Council, Gallatin Art Crossing, and the Downtown Bozeman Partnership—is seeking local Gallatin Valley area artist/s interested in working with students from across the Bozeman School District to design, execute, and install a new public art mural at the site of the 2009 downtown Bozeman gas line explosion. This project is the completion of Ms Laatsch’s MTLA Field Project and will be under her direction.
Funding and assistance will be provided through grants and in-kind community donations. A new mural is planned for this location due to deterioration of the current mural resulting from exposure to time and weather. Expectations for the new mural project include offering students and opportunity to work with an exhibiting, professional, contemporary local artist and building their understanding of the skills, responsibilities and expectations of such a profession, teaching art students the elements of principles of art and design to create a visually stunning work of art, and fostering an understanding of public art, murals, and design concepts through the completion of a major community art project.
Project guidelines are flexible, however the basic plan is to incorporate students from the Bozeman High School Art Club and/or Chief Joseph Middle School art classes to design and layout the mural/s and then work with younger, such as those at the Whittier after-school program to paint and finish the work. Specific art goals and themes are flexible, however, must be school-and community-appropriate. An opening reception will celebrate the completion of the project.
Expectations of the Selected Artist(s):
The chosen artist must be comfortable working with youth and be able to work on a scale sufficient to complete the mural or murals. The selected artist will work in partnership with Emma Laatsch to complete the project. The select artist will be expected to work with students before and/or after school hours. In order to work directly with Bozeman Schools students, the final candidate will need to complete a background check to meet school district regulations. Chief Joseph Middle School Art classes and Art Club, the Bozeman High School Art Club, and various elementary after-school programs have expressed interest in the project and participants will likely be students of ranging from Kindergarten to High School.
Mural theme is flexible but a community friendly theme is expected and mural should be completed prior to beginning of the 2017–18 school year.
Budget:
Artist Stipend: $1,000 for selected artist
Materials: $300 stipend for purchase of new materials, in-kind donations from area businesses, and use of available materials and facilities. Additional Grants and Stipends may be necessary/available.
Timeline:
The specific timeline is developing to meet the needs and availability and to work within the confines of flexible, completion of the project prior to the end of the 2016–17 school year would be preferred, however, installation of completed work and an opening reception may occur after the school year (possibly to coincide with SLAM/Sweet Pea?)
Application Requirements:
• Statement of Interest
Please include your experience with related areas such as education, mural design, and/or public art, a statement about your interest in the project and what expectations you may have for completion of the project.
• Resume
• 5–10 Images
Selection Committee:
Emma Laatsch
GAC Representative
Downtown Bozeman Partnership Representative
School Representative
And Possibly a Student/s
Deadline:
Please submit application materials to [email protected] prior to November 28, 2016 with selection and notification in the second week of December.
