Artists needed for public art opportunity

The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, an open-air lifestyle shopping center in Center Valley, is seeking proposals from artists for a large-scale mural to be designed and created on the two exterior, west-facing curved block walls flanking the shopping center’s AMC movie theater (approximately 500 square feet of wall space to be painted). The project’s goal is to add uniqueness and character to the theater area of the shopping center, reimagining the area as a place of community as well as commerce, and simultaneously increasing the public’s awareness of and appreciation for the arts. The mural should evoke a strong sense of place and be suitable for viewing by visitors of all ages.

The project budget is $20,000, an all-inclusive flat fee which will include all costs associated with the design, planning, materials, installation and unveiling of the project, including any travel, lodging, insurance or other miscellaneous costs. Final selection of an individual artist or artist team will be made jointly by center management, ownership and stakeholders. Artists responding to this request for proposal (RFP) should have demonstrated experience working in public locations which are inherently subject to vandalism or extreme weather. To view a copy of the center’s RFP online, visit https://www.thepromenadeshopsatsauconvalley.com/ press-release/the-promenadeshops-at-saucon-valley-muralcall-for-artists. To be considered, proposal packages must include all of the information and images requested in the RFP.

To submit an entry, artists should include a current professional resume/CV detailing their artistic accomplishments, listing relevant past projects, and offering references from previous public art projects; five digital images of previously completed artwork accompanied by documentation that lists the date, size, location and a description of the work; a letter of interest explaining how the applicant’s previous experience and current artistic direction will result in a successful public art project for this space, including a description of how the artist(s) will approach the project and how the project will create community engagement; an explanation of the initial concept for the proposed artwork, including design concept and goals, art medium(s) or materials to be used, and approximate timeframe for completion of the project installation; and conceptual design drawings with information about the actual dimensions of the proposed artwork and its placement.

Proposal packages should be submitted electronically; no in-person packages will be accepted. Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. Eastern on March 17. Local/regional artists will be given priority consideration. To submit a completed proposal, including all of the information and images detailed above, email submissions to: Natalia Stezenko, general manager for The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, nstezenko@centennialREC.com.

Artist selection will occur in April, the mural design is to be finalized in May and artwork should be completed/installed by June 2023.