Downtown Bettendorf is putting out a call for creatives and artists interested in helping bring its next public art project to life. The Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO) and Quad City Arts are accepting applications for a public mural.
The mural will be created on an exterior wall of the building at 312 17th St. The partners are seeking candidates interested in the mural’s design and installation.
“The Downtown Bettendorf Organization is excited to work with Quad City Arts to bring a new mural to our downtown,” said DBO Executive Director Ryan Jantzi. “This new mural will be a major step in adding to the vibrancy of downtown and encouraging visitors and Quad Citizens to stop and spend some time in our urban core.”
The building’s plain brick wall greets visitors and residents entering downtown on State Street. Organizers said the mural will be highly visible. It faces U.S. Highway 67 and located along a heavily used local corridor with proximity to Interstate 74.
The mural will span a wall on the back of the commercial building owned by Quad Cities developer Kevin Koellner, who is currently seeking tenants for the space, Mr. Jantzi told the QCBJ.
Finalists will be selected based on qualifications and will be invited to submit designs. The DBO and Quad City Arts along with Mr. Koellner will review proposals and will seek public input during the process. Mr. Koellner is manager of Focus Real Estate Development and founder of Build to Suit, Bettendorf. He serves on the DBO Board of Directors and has been instrumental in a number of new developments downtown and elsewhere.
Who can apply?
The DBO muralist should be based within a 250-mile radius of the Quad Cities area (most of Iowa and Illinois, and parts of Wisconsin and Missouri). Interested and qualified artists should complete the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) by 5 p.m. Friday, March 7.
Mr. Jantzi told the QCBJ this is the latest installation of public art in downtown, where DBO will be adding three more sculpture pads this spring. “We will add these to the yearly rotating sculpture program through the QC Arts,” he said.
In addition, the DBO also is looking at ways to activate the urban park under the I-74 bridge with more art. It also is planning for more murals on private businesses in Downtown Bettendorf to be completed as part of the Alternating Currents Festival’s Mural Fest.
“Arts and culture are one of the most important aspects of creating vibrant communities where people want to live, work and make their lives,” Ben Gougeon, Quad City Arts’ program coordinator, said in a news release. “By collaborating with our local stakeholders to fund more public art, we’re able to drive tourism, support artists and make the Quad Cities a place that not only draws people to visit, but enhances civic pride.”
QC Arts will coordinate
Quad City Arts will facilitate the public art project by coordinating the selection process. It also will work closely with the chosen artist or artist team to ensure the project aligns with the overall goals.
Mr. Jantzi said the selected artist will be paid a $15,000 fee for their work. The project is expected to have a total cost of $25,000.
The new mural should serve as a welcome to Downtown Bettendorf. But it does not need to be a welcome sign, according to the RFQ. The focus should be on the imagery, not text, and artists must have large-scale mural experience.
After the RFQs are received, the DBO will select three to five artists to commission their mural and then will select the mural from those final designs. Mr. Jantzi said the hope is that work will be done in June ahead of the City of Bettendorf’s annual 4th of July parade.
For more information about the open call, and to apply visit here. Or contact Ben Gougeon, program coordinator, Quad City Arts, at [email protected] or (309) 793-1213 extension 100.
