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CALLING ALL ARTISTS

CALL FOR ARTISTS

Welcome to Midway, Kentucky Mural

Visit Woodford County

Visit Woodford County is seeking an experienced mural artist to design and execute a public mural celebrating and welcoming visitors to Midway, Kentucky.

The selected artist will be responsible for providing the complete mural design, all labor, supplies, equipment, materials, and protective finishes necessary to create a high-quality, durable mural suitable for public display.

Project Vision

The mural should communicate a clear and inviting “Welcome to Midway, Kentucky” message while reflecting the character, history, charm, and sense of place of Midway and Woodford County.

Artists are encouraged to develop an original concept that is visually engaging, welcoming to residents and visitors, and appropriate for a prominent public-facing location.

The final design will be subject to approval by Visit Woodford County prior to installation.

Artist Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Have demonstrated prior professional mural experience.
  • Submit examples of completed murals as part of the application.
  • Demonstrate the ability to design, manage, and complete a large-scale exterior mural.
  • Be capable of safely working at the required height and complying with all applicable safety requirements.
  • Be responsible for supplying or arranging all equipment and materials necessary to complete the project, permits for said equipment, etc. 
  • Be within budget of Visit Woodford: $7,000

Artist Responsibilities

The selected artist will be responsible for all costs associated with the execution of the mural, unless otherwise specifically agreed upon in writing.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Artist design and labor.
  • All paint and painting supplies.
  • Primer and surface-preparation materials.
  • Brushes, rollers, sprayers, and other application equipment.
  • Lift, boom lift, scaffolding, ladders, or other access equipment required to complete the mural.
  • Equipment transportation and rental.
  • Drop cloths, masking materials, and other protective materials.
  • Surface preparation and cleaning necessary for proper application.
  • All necessary protective coatings and sealants.
  • Cleanup and removal of materials and equipment upon completion.
  • Any other materials, tools, equipment, or services necessary to complete the mural in a professional manner.

Artists should carefully consider these expenses when submitting their proposed project cost.

Design Submission Requirement

Each applicant must submit a rendering of the proposed mural design with their application.

The rendering should provide a clear representation of how the completed mural is expected to look on the designated wall.

The proposed design must:

  • Include a prominent or clearly incorporated “Welcome to Midway, Kentucky” message.
  • Be original artwork created by the applicant.
  • Be appropriate for public display and all ages.
  • Reflect the character and identity of Midway and/or Woodford County.
  • Take into consideration the dimensions, architecture, visibility, and surroundings of the mural site.

Visit Woodford County reserves the right to request reasonable modifications to the selected design before installation.

Mural Protection and Sealant

The selected artist must provide and apply an appropriate exterior-grade protective sealant or coating designed for long-term protection of the mural.

As part of the application, artists must identify:

  1. The specific sealant or protective coating they propose to use.
  2. The manufacturer’s recommended service life or expected longevity of the sealant.
  3. The expected lifespan of the mural under normal exterior conditions.
  4. Recommended frequency of resealing or recoating.
  5. The anticipated cost of future sealant/recoating materials.
  6. Any recommended professional maintenance or application requirements.
  7. Any warranties offered by the manufacturer or artist, if applicable.

Artists must clearly distinguish between the manufacturer’s stated product life and any longevity estimate the artist is personally providing.

Maintenance and Upkeep Requirements

Applicants must provide a written maintenance and upkeep plan identifying anticipated future costs associated with preserving the mural.

The plan should include, when applicable:

  • Routine cleaning.
  • Graffiti removal or repair.
  • Paint touch-ups.
  • Sealant/recoating.
  • Replacement of damaged sections.
  • Equipment or lift rental required for future maintenance.
  • Labor costs.
  • Recommended maintenance schedule.
  • Any other foreseeable upkeep expenses.

The selected artist must provide sufficient information for Visit Woodford County to understand the expected long-term maintenance obligations before the project is awarded.

Budget and Artist Fee

Applicants should submit a complete project budget that accounts for all costs required to design and complete the mural.

The budget should separately identify, when applicable:

  • Artist/design fee.
  • Labor.
  • Paint and supplies.
  • Equipment and lift/scaffolding costs.
  • Surface preparation.
  • Sealant/protective coating.
  • Transportation.
  • Cleanup.
  • Other project-related expenses.

Applicants should not assume that Visit Woodford County will provide equipment, materials, lifts, scaffolding, or other supplies unless specifically stated in the final agreement.

Application Requirements

Applications must include:

  1. Artist statement describing the applicant’s experience and approach to mural projects.
  2. Professional résumé or biography.
  3. Portfolio of previous mural work, including photographs and descriptions of completed projects.
  4. Proposed mural rendering showing the applicant’s concept for the Welcome to Midway mural.
  5. Written description of the proposed design, including the concept and how it reflects Midway and Woodford County.
  6. Detailed project budget identifying all anticipated costs.
  7. Project timeline showing the anticipated design, preparation, installation, and completion schedule.
  8. Sealant/protective coating information, including product name, expected longevity, and application requirements.
  9. Maintenance and upkeep plan, including anticipated future costs and recommended maintenance schedule.
  10. References, preferably from previous mural clients, property owners, municipalities, tourism organizations, or other public-art clients.

Selection Criteria

Applications may be evaluated based on:

  • Quality and originality of proposed mural design.
  • Demonstrated professional mural experience.
  • Quality of previous mural work.
  • Ability to create artwork appropriate for a public tourism setting.
  • Ability of the proposed design to communicate a welcoming Midway message.
  • Creativity and connection to Midway and Woodford County.
  • Feasibility of the proposed design.
  • Completeness and reasonableness of the project budget.
  • Quality of the proposed sealant and protection plan.
  • Understanding of long-term maintenance requirements.
  • Ability to complete the project safely and within the proposed timeline.

Visit Woodford County reserves the right to select the artist whose proposal it determines best meets the goals and requirements of the project.

Ownership and Final Approval

The selected artist must obtain approval of the final design from Visit Woodford County before beginning installation.

Any changes to the approved design must receive prior approval.

The final agreement with the selected artist will establish the specific terms concerning artwork ownership, reproduction rights, photography, publicity, maintenance, repairs, and any other applicable intellectual-property rights.

Artist Agreement

The selected artist will be required to enter into a written agreement with Visit Woodford County before beginning work.

The agreement will establish, at minimum:

  • Approved design.
  • Project scope.
  • Compensation and payment schedule.
  • Project completion deadline.
  • Artist responsibilities.
  • Equipment and material responsibilities.
  • Safety requirements.
  • Surface preparation requirements.
  • Sealant requirements.
  • Maintenance expectations.
  • Repair responsibilities.
  • Insurance requirements, if applicable.
  • Ownership and intellectual-property terms.
  • Cancellation or termination provisions.
  • Any other terms deemed necessary by Visit Woodford County.

Submission

Interested artists should submit all required application materials as one complete proposal.

Submission Deadline: October 1, 2026

Submit Applications To: Emily Downey at Visit Woodford

Contact: Emily@VisitWoodford.com

Questions regarding the project may be directed to the contact listed above.

Visit Woodford County reserves the right to reject any or all submissions, request additional information, negotiate with selected applicants, or cancel or modify the project at its discretion.

We look forward to seeing your vision for welcoming visitors to Midway, Kentucky!